The Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1937. Our Motoring Bill

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 6

The Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1937. Our Motoring Bill

During 1936 some 24,229 motor vehicles were imported into the Dominion. For their purchase the public paid an average of fully £3OO apiece and therefore a total of over £7,250,000. The Manawatu and West Coast districts is one of the most heavily motorised areas in all New Zealand and it is quite astonishing to realise how great an annual sum is spent on motoring in this one area. Similar results would be found in Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa. The North Island country districts are all carrying a tremendous motor traffic in relation to population. It is estimated that for 1936 the Palmerston North districts expended over £400,000 on new motor vehicle purchases and that some 4,500,000 gallons of petrol was consumed. This alone wtmld cost £450,000 but petrol is as a rule but 40 per cent, of motoring expense. Therefore, the total expenditure for the year was £l,lso,ooo—almost £24,000 weekly. -This was borne by approximately 75,000 people. Every kind of motor traffic is included—private cars, taxis, buses and transport goods vehicles. Bo too arc all expenses including petrol, oils, tyres, maintenance, insurance and registration and car depreciation.

For the whole Dominion, the motoring bill has now reached huge proportions. It is estimated that this year the cost of running the Dominion’s motor road traffic will amount to no less than £18,000,000. That represents no less than £1,500,000 monthly. Actually road traffic in point of expenditure, is now three times as great as our rail traffic. About £7,000,000 or less will this year be earned by our railways. No allowance is made for expenditure on roads in the motoring bill, for over the years the motorist has provided these by his really extortionate tax burden. Almost 40 per cent, of the cost of our motoring is due to taxation. Ber head of population the people of this country spend more on motoring than any other people in the world.