Carriers Worried by Tax Burden

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 13

Carriers Worried by Tax Burden

CRUSHING petrol levy MINISTER’S ADMISSION • I may Have gone too far with tax," said the Hon. K. S. williams, Minister of Public Works, when he was approached on Wednesday by a deputation rePresenting the New Zealand Masf.r Carriers, who registered a .trong protest against the imposition of the petrol tax of 4d per eallon, on top of the taxation to which they are already subjected „„ account of levies through heavy traffic fees. deputation had pointed out that the taxation on heavy commercial vehicles was already almost overpowering. The carrying interests had hways held the view that a petrol tax was the fairest means of levying on their rolling stock, and on that account ■hey had protested when the heavy mfflc fees were instituted. Sow that a petrol tax had been aded ;1,9 breaking-point had been reached. Many firms would not be able to carry on unless they were granted some concessions, and others would be able to manage only because the transport business was just an incidental of their interests. CONCERNS IN AUCKLAND The case for the deputation, which represented the master carriers of the Dominion, and expressed the grave concern felt lately by Auckland carrying firms, was presented by Mr. B. L. Hammond, who stated that if the Government pursued its intentions many arrying firms would bo forced out of business. The fes first imposed in 1925 ranged irom £6 to £75 per vehicle, and as the carrying business was concerned with the heavier vehicles, the taxation imposed on it amounted from £3O to £ls a vehicle. As a result the taxation on a fiveton truck reached the sum of £96 10s, made up as follows: Heavy traffic fee £75 Licence fees £6 10/Tvre lax (British) £l2 10/Hntt ltoad fees (Wellington £ 3 Total £96 10/Whtle meeting this taxation under protest, the carriers still asked for a petrol tax. but naturally sought remis»ion of other forms of taxation if the petrol tax were instituted. Consequently the recent institution of the petrol tax, without any measurable reduction in other directions, caused utter amazement and intense disappointment. The petrol tax would mean another £3O per year in levies upon a five-ton truck, which meant a total levy of £126 l')--. These figures were unchallengeable, and showed that a tive-ton truck could no longer be operated as i business proposition. The policy of the Goverhment was crushing the private transport of the Dominion. ROADS OUT OF HAND In reply the Minister admitted that he might have gone too far with the

tax, but said he had been impelled to do so by the serious position revealed in the country districts, where the roads were getting out of hand. He pointed out that heavy traffic fees had already been slightly reduced, as an indication of the direction in which remission would be given. The deputation left with the Ministers assurance that he would confer with the Prime Minister, and go into the question thoroughly. “UP AGAINST BRICK WALL” SOUTH ISLAND MOTORISTS 4 , INCENSED & Press Association. DUNEDIN, To-day. .. bailing a satisfactory reply from tile Government with regard to our demands that the petrol tax should be allocated on the same basis as the tyre public meeting will be held and a united protest made by the Motor Association, Chambers of Commerce, jnd other interested bodies, including J e Otago Expansion League, against ms intolerable position.” said Mr. A. E. Ansell, president of the South Island •Motor Union, to-day. Mr. Ansell added: We have had many u&nts on our roading problems, and are "manually up against a brick wall. ■! atest act of the Government is probably the worst ever put across us, jy the present Government. We are '■etermined that w© will not tolerate Counties in the South Island are to receive from motorists subin accordance with their usage of uie roads.