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Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1928, Page 4

Quitk a discussion Ims been proceeding a round the dominion ns 1q the question of heavy trafiice fees collected by local bodies. The Government, winch has supreme control in these matters in that it lias the inherent power to make and unmake the fees bv Order-in-Council, lias intimated the in fontion of convening a conference early in the now year to consider the wliol question. As at present, the Ices aie the income of local bodies. They are collected usually by a central authority and distributed pro rata among the various councils within the area. These fees are levied on a tonnage basis calculated at the gross-weight,, including vehicle and loading. There is nocossarlv a limit Lo gross loading, and a concession is made where pneumatic tyres are used. The payers ol the heavy fra Hie fees eonfplained to the Government that they are heavy users of petrol, and contributed substantial lv to road maintenance through .that channel. On that ground mainly they asked for a revision of the traffic fees. The late Government proposed a conference of local bodies, and it would appear that the meeting will be held n the new year. The local bodies’ cxocricnce seems to be that this heavy traffic uses largely the by-roads which receive no part of the petrol tax. That money is given to the local bodies mainly through subsidies for upkeep of main highways. The general tenor ol the discussions by the local authorities is to the effect if heavy traffic 'fees arc 'ost. then something should he suhsti t.uted to make good the loss. In-other words a proportion of the revenue from 'he-petrol fax should he allocated to the local bodies to make up the de--icncy. Probably this would be acceptable to all parties, though it has ' e borne in mind that the heavy traffic fees in general do not compensate for the extra damage done to the roads bv the increased weights now passing over the roads at a higher speed ,and more 'lien. One consequence is the need for n higher standard of road. Hoads must be wider and have more metal, and maintenance costs are lighter. T lie standard of bridges and culverts must tie bettor also. It is difficult to estimate the cost perhaps iu this respect, but undoubtedly there must be a larger toll on the rates, and that money lias to lie found out ol the general fund ol the local bodies. It is evident that in the end the cost to the local body, and indirectly to the ratepayers, must be an increasing quantity as heavy traffic develops and the equitable aspect is that the users must he prepaied to bear a 'failshare of the cost, whether in fees or in tax. and this can be readjusted only, it certainly cannot be ignored.