PETROL TAX

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3717, 15 November 1927, Page 1

PETROL TAX

CONSIDERED TOO HIGH FARMERS’ UNION PROTEST. Some discussion regarding the petrol tax and its application to farmers’ tractors arose at Saturday’s meeting of the Manawatu executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and a motion in support of an attempt to get exemption was carried. i Hon. E. Newman advised by telegram that he was making strong representation that petrol used in farmers’ tractors should be exempt from the increased duty. He also stated that he hoped the executive would urge the Dominion executive to support his efforts. The Dominion secretary of the union wrote asking that if the Manawatu executive was in favour of the movement being made in. Parliament by farmer members to have second grade benzine used by farm, tractors exempt from the new tax for it forwarded telegrams asking for such exemption to Messrs D. .1 ones, M.P., Hon. JO. Newman, M.L.C., and the executive’s own members of Parliament. The secretary (Mr E. N. Budden): Evidently the Dominion executive is •importing the movement, since we have a circular from it. Mr Dear said he thought it was hardly a fair thing, because second grade petrol was used by most lorries and buses. The chairman (Mr O. P. Lynch): The exemption wanted ought to lie granted. Mr Maul: It doesn’t matter how they juggle with the Lax, 95 per cent, of the money goes from the land. Mr' Dear: d think the Government could have started with 2d tax. The chairman: I think so, too. We should push on tho laudable efforts lor the prevention of oppression of the farmer.

Mr Maul: The tax is going to mean about £4 a year to me using a l gin car just to come to town with. Am I going to get any benefit? The chairman (to Mr Maul): Yes; you are going to get better roads. Ihe Government had not, lie averred, treated the Farmers’ Union fairly, as when they had passed their remit supporting the proposal to impose a petrol tax the tax could have been taken off tyres, but now both had to be paid. Mr Maul said he thought that the petrol tax was imposed with the idea of taking business away from the lorries and giving it back to the railways. He moved time the Hon. E. Newman be supported. . The motion was second' d by Mr .Dear and carried unanimously.

SYSTEM OF ALLOCATION. DUNEDIN, Nov. 12. The Otago Expansion League has sent the following telegram to Mr Si dev: ‘‘The League is astounded at the attitude of Parliament m connection with the allocation of the petrol tax for each island. ye are joining the Motor Union for the purpost of fighting what has become an intolerable position.” COUNTY COUNCIL’S VIEWS. SUPPORT OF PRINCIPLE. “That this meeting of the Horowhenua County Council views with alarm further taxes for the mam highways as we have already contributed more than one half share to the county main highways. We feel sure that, had our representatives known the position as it is to-day, they would never have voted in favour of the county hi"hways loan. The council trusts that the Government will bring down legislation to give the- already burdened ratepayers some substantial measure ot This was the text of a resolution moved by Cr. Jensen at Saturday s meeting of the council. Speaking to it ho stated that he was referring to the * The chairman, Cr. Monk, said that lie supported the principle that the users of the roads should pay, but there were some things in the resolution with which lie could not agree Horowhenua had already contributed too much, but the board must have revenue. Still, Horowhenua could not benefit to anv extent by the money to be raised under the petrol tax ns >]' was one of the few counties, it not the only county, in New Zealand witln out subsidiary highways so, though he must support the principle of the tax, lie would side with an endeavour to have legislation ; brought down to ensure that the money raised gave them some relief. As it stood, however, lie could not vote for Cr. Jensen’s resolution. ~ T, . “Perhaps Cr. Jensen would like to hold it over for a month and revise it,’ said Cr. Ryder. Cr. Kilsby considered that some measure of relief should be given to counties that had raised loans for making roads. He seconded the motion. It was Cr,. McLeavey’s opinion that the tax was sound if it were used to relieve county councils. . Other members spoke, the majority favouring the intention of the resolution but expressing the opinion that it could be more happily w’orded. On being put to the meeting it w r as lost by five votes to three.