SYSTEM OF GRADUATED TAX.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 129, 3 February 1915, Page 2

SYSTEM OF GRADUATED TAX.

AFFECTED BY WIDTH OF TYRES. The maner in which motor-car traffic has assisted in breaking up the arterial roads, lias caused members of local bodies to put on their thinkingcaps and promulgate a scheme whereby the inevitable taxation upon those responsible should fall upon the right shoulders, and at the same time be equitably distributed. The tyros, petrol, horse-power, etc., have all been suggested as a basis for taxation, bul wording to Mr. Sydney Mair, County Engineer for Rangitikei, some local bodies have made a commencement v'.th taxation and have been rewarded vith some measure of success. Report ’ng to his Council, on Saturday. ];- mid; " I find on inquiry that some enur■'ies have inaugurated under their bylaws a system of a graduated tax inversely on width of tyres, with great advantage, and J would rec.nnnnem that this matter be given the early

consideration of the council. In om county, vehicles with tyros of '■) inelie? and under used for heavy traffic, arc. charged .€25, the amount gradually decreasing with width s t>f tyre, until vehicles with S-incli tyres and over arexempt from license. It has been found by experience that gradually as the width of tyres was increased the damage to the roads has decreased immensely, while now that wide tyres aria general use the heavy traffic does practically no damage to the roads."