ROAD MAINTENANCE.
MOTORS AND RATES. The vexed question of road muintenance formed Ihe subject of discussion at the annual Conference of the Taranaki Farmers' Union., on .Thursday when .a remit from the KJlhani branch." that in view of the difficulty of maintaining roads, owing to 'increased motor. traU'c, a motor taw should lie imposed upon ail owners of motor vehicles, as a means of raising revenue for the necessary maintenance of roads was moved by Mr O'Neill. He stated that he thought it was a time a limit was placed on farmers regarding road maintenance. The position was different now from what it was ten years ago when the roads were metalled, whereas now they were tarred, and all the expense came out of the farmers' pockets. If the roads werenot tarred, the general public who used the roads would have to pay more fof benzine, tyres and upkeep of cars It was therefore duly right that the general public should contribute something towards the cost of the roads. Tn some instances they did pay through the tollgates, but he submitted that that was a cumbersome method and they should therefore set their minds to look for the remedy in some other direction. He proposed that a tax should be placed on all motor vehicles, and the revenue be devoted to the upkeep of main roads. He had enquired at the Eltham County office and had ascertained that of the cars registered 19!) belonged to farmers, and 00 to people who were not farmers. That was perhaps rather against his point, but he thought that farmers would be willing to be taxed and so save rates, and at the same time bring in the other individuals.
Mr Dawes, in seconding, said that this would perhaps he the solution of the tollgate problem. Either- the principle of the tollgate or of rating on the land wan wrong. A delegate asked how they would make the tax 4n equitable one. Some cars mieht only run 50 miles in a year. Mr. Dawes said that the ta\' could be put on tyres. Mr Maxwell opposed the resolution, because he objected to all special taxes, ft, would have been just as reasonable in the old days of bullock drays to have taxed horses. Motor cars had come as the means of transport and roada had got to be provided for them. Tarred roads might be more costly to put down but as regards maintenance, tarred roads with motor traffic cost less than metal roads on which steel tyres were used. It would be unequitable to tax tyres, because when not used they deteriorated. Moreover the man who used a metal road that was not tarred woud use more tyres and so pay more tax without getting the advantage of a good road. The Chairman thought it would be wise to withdraw the remit as motor cars on tarred roads did little damage. Mr. Marfel thought that there might be a tax 1 on benzine used for motor cars, farmers to make a declaration if the benzine was to be used for milking machines, etc. He considered that a toHgate was a fair way of collecting the tax, if not a wise one. Mr Astbury was opposed to taxing motor cars, because the car brought the country settlers closer to the centres. He understood that motor traffic was easier on tarred roads than horse traffic. The motor car was undoubtedly a necessity. They might just as well tax the horse. It was an invidious tax, and he thought that farmers would sooner pay an extra pound or two in rates than pay the tax. It would, moreover, only come back on them, because if motor waggons were taxed the extra cost of the conveyance of the produce, etc., would fall on the farmer. Mr T. Perry was not in sympathy with the tax. He considered the time was coming when they would require the horse. On certain roads motor cars were more destructive. The remit was lost.
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Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1918, Page 7
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672ROAD MAINTENANCE. Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1918, Page 7
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