South Islanders Seek Petrol Funds

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 202, 15 November 1927, Page 13

South Islanders Seek Petrol Funds

ALLOCATION FEARS “GREEDY-NORTH” BOGY Press Association. AN ELLINGTON, To-day. The fear expressed when the Motor Spirits Tax Bill was before the House of Representatives last week, that the South Island would not receive its fair allocation of moneys derived from the tax, was further voiced by a deputation of South Island members which waited on the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, this morning, at the request of motor organisations. The main point, expressed by Mr. T. K. Sidey, Dunedin South, chief spokesman, was whether the Government would reconsider the allocation of the petrol tax so as to place the allocation of money on the same footing as the tyre tax in so far as the apportionment between the North and South Islands is concerned. Cook Strait was an effective bar to the cars of one island using the roads of the other. Only a mere handful passed from one to the other. After others had spoken, Mr. Coates turned to Mr. Williams, and asked: ‘•Have you any intention of robbing the South Island?” Mr. Williams: I certainly have not. The only suggestion of the kind comes from the South Island. Mr. Coates said that the Government could not agree to the request for a definite allocation, and pointed out that the Bill had passed the House. It was not a question of taking from one island to another, or from one county to another. Each country would be considered according to its requirements, and its special roading difficulties. He deprecated the raising of the question of North v. South in regard to allocation, and said that the fears were quite unfounded. Mr. Williams had already indicated that he was prepared to consider, in the recess, the question of giving the South Island motorists more representation on the Main Highways Board. He suggested that they should give the legislation a trial. It could be reviewed later. Mr. J. R. Hamilton, Awarua: You people in the North Island are so keen on borrowing money. South Island people like to live within their means. Mr. Coates: That is so, and it is very wise. “GIVEN MILLIONS” SOUTH ISLAND ROADS STRONG PROTEST RAISED DUNEDIN. To-aay. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. S. B. Macdonald, who was present as representative of the Otago Expansion League, moved; “That this meeting of the chamber expresses profound dissatisfaction at the non-allocation of the petrol tax between each island, and requests members of Parliament to insist on the insertion of a clause in the Highways Act Amendment Bill, now before Parliament, giving effect to such allocation on the basis of petrol used in each island.’* Mr. Macdonald spoke strongly against the Government’s proposals, and expressed the opinion that unless strong protest were made the whole of the money raised by the petrol tax would be spent in the North Island. He said that the Sovjh Island roads were put in their present condition out of people who made a present of them to the Government, at the time of the abolition of the provincial councils. The Government had given practically nothing towards the cost of the roads in the South Island, and yet the South Island had given millions for roading in the North Island. The South Island wanted either allocation on.a 50-50 basis or the money spent in the island in which it was collected. The motion was seconded by Mr. G. J. Williamson, who expressed the opinion that the bulk of the tax would be spent in the North Island. Mr. A. Barnett said that he would like all associated bodies in Otago and Southland to discuss the matter in a comprehensive way and send such a strong delegation to Wellington that the Government must listen to them. Mr. Macdonald said that the action suggested by Mr. Barnett had been taken. The Expansion League had organised the affair and the voice of the South Island would be heard very strongly in Wellington. The motion was carried unanimously.