TAXATION ON MOTORISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1930, Page 8

TAXATION ON MOTORISTS

INCREASE OPPOSED

FA R MERS VNJ 0N r R E.SOL UTI ON DISCOS,SKI). H. , J. OAM AR l\ June 27. The, possible increase in. motor taxnitioiiN and Nike stopping. of. grants were the .subject for .con.sid<‘i;jable ctis.'ussion /■afN thb- quarterly.: meeting of delegatesthe 'South Island Motor Union, held in Oannuu to-day. Reports'Aveix-' ng-aixqU:..from Mr M. h. rldf 'nnrtt/risfcs' ireprc.sentative on the Main. Highways Roar'd, but the figures q bled were taken in committee " • : • . Mr V«v?..ird iidormod the assemblage tlvTt vke Government intended to i.-easy !.f;-...iting .£35,000 to the revenue-[ 1 the Main Highways Hoard- {

. The* pi w N '.he £35,000 grant to .flic -mI revenue and

the e,• d.- jtorists’ money oh'-tk. ed tin. bjoji •' petrol tax' and the. do- - M -. .-ties were matters wbi.J • . .*>%£ i- withUcbiijoint- *• t K . W ' Mr \Vy.nyHf«d ■ •.ibned the matter as it .-dfo; ted ytim i-Ggkwa-ys Board. So Par as the boat i as. concerned. ' representation had keen made to the Government to provide a proportion towards repairing.■.damags'. : to the Toads in the earthquake ;n;e|f ' So far no actionNhad'. been.:.- taken, Ibyf* the Government. It was'My;-,matter. now’for olte motorists toj take up 'and protest to the Government. The board could do'*little.; in the so far as derating' (bodies was cofjcei’jfcdiT Tliis matter had not come Before »the board. Sonie of the proposals might prove*, fallacious. Aik the' proposals iad been ,:jofia general character, and they, would meed something detailed for i tijo; Government to act upon. The. Comities’' Conference would meet soon • and if ' they supported the proposal—he. did s ‘not they wo ill cl—then- strong representation % to the Govern'ment would be made. The matter of the board’s unemployed re-$ lief work A lafge 'sum;' £200,000, had been expended.':, .jMdst ha'3’ Ibeen spent in necessary works. Sorpe had been rfjpent on works ahead jf their timej. He would suggest That all moneys paid-in direct relief! work should be subsidised by the.Go.v- j ernnient £1 for £l. .H-. .. I H. C. Harley, the"presidentfreferred to the minutes of the quarterly meeting, held in Dunedin. last December. There a letter was forwarded to the Government, request- j ing that a grant, towards the earthquake expenditure be made. The' otter was acknowledged but no 1 fur- ■[ ther information had come to hah cl. j Mr H. Hal I iday said that strong re- 1 presentations should be made to the * Government regarding a grant to- j .cards the earthquake fund. Regard-1 'ng the de-rating proposals, Mr; Poison j had been listened to more than he * -ver had been before in his lile. That j gentleman went round talking;.; to i peoplo who knew nothing about the latter. The motorists were loaded up to the very limit of their taxa- 1 non, and any other suggestion of ■ "cation was absolutely absurd. j Mr Petrie said that it was all very , well to send written statements to ( lie Government. If necessary all associations throughout the Dominion should send a representative to form i deputation to Wellington to interdew the Prime Minister. 1 Mr Halliday: In other words, follow + r>~Hcw followed in respect to tlie £200,000. - | The action of the executive committee in engaging Mr T. M. N. Gibbs, A Christchurch, to collect data respecting the taxation was approved. Ml* Halliday then moved: “That the union send a strong protest to the Government regarding the withholding of the £35,000 from the revenue account of the Main Highways. Board.” This was carried unanimously. Mr Petrie said that there should 'lot be an increase of taxation on motorists, , He would move in that direction. i Mr Haigli stated that they were '••■tting too far ahead. The Prime Minister had a very hard job and dicy should sympathise with his difficulties. They should bear in mind

That the Prime Minister had stated ,rn the Press that he wohld give an pooortiinity of hearing their views before an increase in taxation whjf, made. *." „ Mr Wynyard agreed with Mr Hallidav. They" should write to the Prime Klinister, bearing- in mind ' liis stateda eh t that motorists would he given ■an opportunity to 'be hoard on the maitier of taxation, but informing him that the South Island Motor’ Unf ion? wore against 'any increase in the petrol tax. Mr Halliday ' then moved: “‘That the South Island Motor Union could not; hut be alive to- the resolutions passed by tho New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Wellington in favour of an increased petrol tax to enable, the de.rnting- of lands so far as roacl expenditure is concerned, and to various other suggestions made in the Press to increase taxation for , other purposes, and while noting with appro,y if! the Prime Minister’s remarks at Christchurch on the subject, deemed it only fair in the interests of the motorists of New. Zealand to say that it is quite opposed, to any increase in motor taxation, which with -other imposts made 'inf respect to- the motoring community are as heavy as it can bo reasonably expected to Bear.” The motion was carried.