HAULAGE PLANTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1925, Page 4

HAULAGE PLANTS.

QUESTION OF TAXATION

WELLINGTON, August 21. A misconception existing among members of southern local bodies as to the amount of tax imposed by the Motor Vehicles Act on traction engines and trailers is explained in a communication which the Minister of Internal Affairs has sent to the Canterbury Progress League, at whose instance a recent conference of local hotly representatives was held in Christchurch. The letter explains actually what is provided in tiie Act, and states that as it was realised that some hardship was occasioned to farmers who owned traction engines and used them only for the purpose of conveying threshing plants or other farm implements lrom one to another part of the same ltirm or to another farm owned by the farmer who owned the traction engine, it was decided that in such cases the traction engine was not to he considered a motor vehicle under the Act as il could hardly ho said that it was using a road or street. WHEN REGULATIONS OPERATE. At the same time il is quite clear that if a traction engine is used for the purpose of conveying goods to or from a railway station or port, or is used for the purpose of conveying farm implements or threshing machines to another person’s farm, it is then a motor vehicle under the Act, and lias to lie registered and pay the annual license fee. It won Id appear, however, that some have construed the information as meaning that a traction engine is a motor-vehicle for the purposes of the motor-lorry regulations, and has to pay a license fee under the provisions of those regulations. The Minister has not, however, referred to tho motor lorry regulations which are issued primarily under the provisions of the Public Wokrs Act Amendment Act of last sesssioa, and are not therefore administered hv lii.s Department. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS. The Minister goes on to say: ” Il will he. obvious that w hem Air I* urkert staled that 1 lmd interpreted the regulations differently from what was intended, he thought from the information which was placed before him that when eommuiiienling with some correspondents I must have intimated that a traction engine was liable under the inolnr-lorry regulations. I. however, as stated, made no relercnoe whatever in my communications regarding the administration of the Motor A chicles Arl and. as intimated, the schedule to that Act specifically provides for an annual fee of L‘s for every traction engine. THRESHING PLANTS. "The threshing or ehafl-clitling machines are not considered to he motor vehicles within the meaning of the -Motor Vehicles Act. unless they are propelled hv their own mechanical power, nor are those vehicles held lo be trailers within the meaning of the Act, nor is a motor vehicle conveying a galley, lint or ‘whare’ in connexion with chalf-cutting or threshing plants considered to he a motor vehicle for the purpose of the Motor \ chicles Act, if such galley, hut or ‘whare’ is part of the vehicle on which it is conveyed and is not detachable iherelrnm, and the vehicle cannot he used for other purposes. TRAILERS. "With regard to the question of a vehicle which is being hauled by a traction engine. I have to stale- teat such \ chicle would be a trailer, and a trailer is defined in the Act as meaning a ichicle without motive power, designed MiLly or principally for the carriage of person-, or goods, and drawn by a motor \chicle. The annual fee for tiepurposes ol the Motor A chicle Am lor a trailer i. Cl for a trailer with three or more wheels, and C! for every o! her trailer. The I've fixed by the Motor A'ehietes Act is C 5 for a traction engine, and Cl or Cl in the ease ot a trailer, hut it is understood that the lee to which vour League i- taking exception is the fee payable under lire molor-liirry regulations, which regulations are not administered by me or my Department, hut hv the Public AA’ork- Department, and as it: would therefore appear that the mailer at issue is one for the cousiderai ion of the .Minister of Public AA’orks. I have lmd pleasure in forwarding a copy of your communication, to Mr Coates.”