MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2843, 7 February 1925, Page 3

MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

MR COATES ANSWERS CRITICS Christchurch, Last Night. Objections to certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and a proposal to drop the newly imposed tax of £2 a year on cars in favour of an. amended tyre tax were subjects brought under the notice of Hon. J. G. Coates by a deputation representing the South Island Motor Union which waited upon him to-day. In the course of his reply, Mr C'oales said: “You appear to be pinning your faith upon the tyre tax. I am not the Minister responsible for this legislation and anything I say is only my persona! opinion and cannot commit anybody. I wish to make I hat perfectly clear. I have one definite idea: as to the best method ,of motor taxation, and that is the petrol tax. You object to that on (he grounds that exemptions will be sought,, but experience shows that it is the only way of getting at the motor ear. In my opinion it is the only way to correctly record the actual use of the machine.”

Mr J. A, Hawke (president of the Union) : “I have read that in countries where they have the petrol tax they are now discussing a proposal to adopt the tyre tax. . Mr Coates: They will discuss anything to get out of paying. Mr Coates added that the incidence of the fiat tax was unfair and he did not uphold that.