HOSPITAL-TAX LEVY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 492, 23 October 1928, Page 7

HOSPITAL-TAX LEVY

AN AUSTRALIAN IDEA j The proposal made by the secretary of the Melbourne Hospital. Mr. A. 11. ! Teece, that every motorist should he taxed a shilling- to provide funds for the treatment of every patient injured in road accidents, will be strongly opposed by the Royal Automobile Club, says an Australian paper. 1 “So far as the R.A.C. of Victoria, ! with its 50 branches, is concerned, it j will strenuously oppose any suggesj tions whatever for the further taxa- ! tion of motorists,” said the secretary, I Mr. C. Hodges. ! “The owner of a motor-car is j i singled out for special taxation for the I j construction and maintenance of roads to which no other class of roaduser directly contributes,” said Mr. Hodges, “and we might expect that the next thing will be a special tax for the upkeep of the traffic police; another to defray the cost of lighting the roads, and another toward the-cost of prosecuting the motorist. There is no saying where this victimisation will end. If further funds are required for the maintenance of our hospitals, they should be provided by contribution or tax on every class, and not by singling out the already taxoverburdened motoring section of the community.” Mr. Hodges considered that methods such as those suggested are a distinct hindrance to progress, as the hicreasing amounts motorists are called on to pay must have the effect of restricting the use of the motor vehicle.