PETROL TAX

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 12, 5 September 1931, Page 4

PETROL TAX

MOTORISTS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HIGHWAY S , SNCREASE . FOUR YEARS FIGURES An outline of the distribution of the petrol tax, which was increased from 4d to 6d per gallon as from July 22, 1930, is given in the annual report by the Transport Department, which has been presented to Parliament. The gross yield for the year ended March 31, 1931, was £1,417,294, and from this has been deducted refunds amounting to £102,844 and commission to Customs Department totalling £14,400, leaving a net yield of £1,300,050. The net yields for the last three years and part of 1928 were as follows: — Year ended 31st March. £ 1928 143,516 1929 802,232 1930 961,907 1931 1,300,050 Total since inception of tax £3,207,705 "There has been an increase in the application for refunds since the tax was increased -to 6d," states the report. "There are two main reasons for this — firstly,. the financial stringency due to the prevailing depression, and, secondly, the increase in the tax, which has now made it worth while for people to claim refunds that they did not worry about when the tax was 4d. The distribution of the pi'oceeds from the petrol tax between the Main Highways Board and boroughs with populations of 6000 and over was as follows for the year ended March 31, 1931:— - £ Main Highways Board 1,219,209 Boroughs (population of 6000 and over) ...... 80,841 Total £1,300,050 "After August 1, 1930, the proportion of the petrol tax paid to boroughs with populations of 6000 and over was reduced from 8 per cent. to 5 is per cent. under t.he Finance Act, 1930."