“Benefits Ten Times Amount of Tax”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 194, 5 November 1927, Page 9

“Benefits Ten Times Amount of Tax”

WHAT MOTORISTS PAY EXTENSION OF HIGHWAYS SCHEME (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, To-day. The recently imposed petrol tax of fourpence a gallon amounts approximately to £4 annually for every car throughout New Zealand. This is the estimate of the Prime Minister, who claims that this extra, cost will be offset ten times by the benefits that are to be derived from the improvement of roads that is expected to result from the revenue from this tax. Demands upon the Highways Board by local authorities could not be met because the board did not have the money, but an extra 3,000 miles of roads were now being- taken under the highways scheme for maintenance. “THREEPENCE SUFFICIENT” EXEMPTION OF TRACTORS Press Association. ASHBURTON, Friday. After a discussion, the Ashburton County Council resolved, by six votes to five, that the Government be informed that the council considered a tax of threepence a gallon on petrol to be sufficient. It was decided unanimously that all fuel for agricultural tractors should be exempt from the tax. HAWKE’S BAY APPROVES Press Association. NAPIER, Friday. The Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association to-day expressed approval of the petrol tax, but wishes to have the assurance of the Government that the whole of the money collected will be used on roads. CARRIERS’ OBJECTIONS £123 A YEAR FOR EACH VEHICLE (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The following figures should satisfy every fair-minded person that the owners of heavy motor vehicles have good grounds for objecting to the imposition of a petrol tax of fourpence a gallon as an additional form of taxation, said Mr. A. J. Curtis, president of the Wellington City and Suburban Master Carriers’ Association, to-day.

During the past 12 months 30 heavy vehicles operated by six Wellington firms of carriers consumed 54,396 gallons of petrol, and if a tax of fourpence were imposed the firms in question would, on the same rate of consumption, be required to pay £906 12s per annum in the form of a petrol tax. The total annual motor taxation of these six firms in respect of their 30 vehicles would then be: Heavy traffic fees, £2,141; licence fees, £195; Hutt Road fees, £9O; tyre tax, approximately £355; petrol tax, £906 12s. The present annual taxation was £2,786, and with the petrol tax the total would be £3,692 12s.

The average taxation payable in respect of each of the vehicles in question was approximately £93 per annum, said Mr. Curtis, and it was proposed to increase the figure to £123 per annum. He asked what person could conscientiously say that he believed a tax of £123 a vehicle per annum was fair and equitable. RELIEF FOR RATEPAYERS WAIPUKURAU PLEASED Press Association. WAIPUKURAU, To-day. At the Waipukurau County Council meeting to-day the following motion, proposed by the chairman, Mr. A. C. Russell, was carried unanimously: “That this council desires to convey a hearty vote of thanks to the Prime Minister in view of the adverse criticism passed by automobile associations and others on the petrol tax. This council highly appreciates the relief extended to county ratepayers who have long protested against the land carrying all the local taxation. The relief will give better connection with the backblocks, and better roads for the travelling public.”