PETROL TAX

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1927, Page 4

PETROL TAX

WELLINGTON’S SPECIAL SLICE. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. The Finance Bill contains a clause empowering the Main Highways Board to take over the interest and sinking fund charges of the Huff Road Board, a composite body representing flip city and suburban boroughs, in return frr a special local tax of lifts annually. The board has greatly improved suburban roads. The Finance Bill will relieve Wellington motorists of their special obligation.

Mr Sidev asked the Minister of Pub lie Works if lie bad any defined policy in proposing this clause. It would be fair to extend the same principle to Auckland, which provided concrete roads, or to Taranaki, which had miles of tar-sealed roads. “I also want to know why this particular benefit goes to Wellington only,” remarked Mr Harris (Waifomnta). The Hon I?. A. Wright (Minister of Education): There was a special tax. Mr Harris added that the Railway Department oaid Ini'll' the cost of lorni-

ing the Unit Bond. He did not object to Wellington getting £l(i.(!of> hut he expected the Government to bring down some special scheme to benefit all the cities to a greater extent than 8 per cent of the petrol tax allocated to I hem.

. Mr Howard (Christchurch South) described Page's Hoad in his district, which, as it led to the seaside, was I very popular. He thought a special aij location might he made lor it. Certainly Christchurch should not he left I out. There were Wellington memb'.’rs actually having the cheek to get up and thank the Minister for letting them get away with a hit of general taxation. 'I he Chairman of Committees (Mr I H.oekly) asked the member to withdraw the word ‘‘cheek. Mr Howard: 1 do so, and turn the other cheek. (Laughter). Mr Kyle (II iecarton) supported his colleague’s protest and brought to the Minister’s notice a road in his district. Mr .1. A. L? (Auckland Fast) considered that the Hull Hoad tax. as a kind of tailgate survival, ‘should be abandoned, hut this was no reason why the Government, because it had Wellington pressure, should have relieved that city without doing anything for the other big centres. Mr Eraser (Wellington Central) explained local circumstances, suggesting that Wellington City was shouldered with all the road responsibility, hut its revenue from the local tax was taken away. It was simply replacing

the money from the petrol tax, and the Minister of Public Works said quite definitely that if there were similar conditions elsewhere they could he dealt with in the same way. ‘‘Possibly other cities will be treated alike, hut Wellington City was on the spot,” remarked Mr Armstrong (Christchurch East) meaningly.