FARMERS’ TRACTORS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5302, 20 July 1928, Page 2

FARMERS’ TRACTORS.

PAYMENT OF LICENSE FEES.

LEGISLATION TO BE ALTERED.

Recently Mr, A. M. Samuel, member for Ohinemuri, asked the Minister of Public Works whether he would bring down, amending legislation to tlie Motor'Vehicles Act, 1924', and tlie Motor Spirtts, Taxation Act, 1927, to fiemedy the present unsa t.isfactory state of affairs, whereby a farmer who is not a contractor but who may use his tractor to occasionally halp his neighbour, and who may have to traverse a public road for a short distance in so doing, is not. only called upon to pay license fees!, but also debars himself from a refund of motor; spirit taxation ip respect of suteh vehicle.

Mr Samuel pointed out that had occurred where fanners possessing tractors had, through their generosity in helping their neighbours, been called 'Upon, to license their tractors the same as ordinary contractors, and were thug; debarred from thebenefits of the petol-tax rebate, although their vehicles were used for, agricultural putfpoS|es only. On Wednesday the Minister replied that legislation, would be brought down tills year to’reimedy thl's state of affairs.

Mr Samuel thanked the Minister, apd stated that the reply would give general Satisfaction. He was of opinion that the Act hpd been strained '' n its .interpretation,, as it was never inr endled to penalise farmers who were using tractors for agricultural purposes. He trusted that tlie new legislation would be drafted with a reasonable; amount of elasticity concerning the distance that these tractors would be able to travel along a public road for the purposje of helping neighbours, pnd he hoped that no fees would be chargeable unless they became general contractors.