THE WHEEL TAX.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1919, Page 3

THE WHEEL TAX.

TARANAKI COUNCIL'S ACTION. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. REVOCATION OF ORDER THREATENED. A large deputation, representative of the dltt'ereii;; local bodies in Turunaki, waited upon ilio Hon. .1. Ji. Hine, Minister for Internal Affairs, at tho Town Hali, Eltham, yesterday in reference to the Taranaki county Council's vehicle traffic by-law. Mr. »i. W. Taylor, Mayor of Klthum, presided. In introducing the deputation, the chairman congratulated .Mr. Hine on his promotion to the Ministry, and said that he was the first Minister they had had for a Taranaki electorate since the days of Sir Hurry Atkinson. Hon. Hine said he appreciated the cordial remarks of tho chairman, who had overlooked tho fact that Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who had represented the Jigmont constituency for a time, had been in the Ministry. Ho had eonio there to hear their views on the Taranaki County Council's by-law which was to come Into operation on October 1. The byMaw had been brought under the notice of tho Government by Mr. Wilkinson, who had Introduced a Bill to repeal the power given to sixteen counties to puss the by-law. The Act under which the power was exercised was of long standing and dated back to 1908. In 1915, an Act was passed repealing the by-law, but under the same Act it was practically reestablished, with tho inclusion of power to tax motor cars. Tho Taranaki County Council's by-law had not been brought before his notice previously by any local body, and he had been surprised that Mr. Wilkinson's Bill should h.iv;: been introduced without any objection It- any local body, and Mr. Masscy iind usku. him to visit Taranaki and hear them fully in the matter. They wanted lo know whother the feeling which Mr. Wilkinson emphasised as existing actually did exist. Mr. McGuiiniess (Eltliam County Council), after apologising for the absence of the coui'ty chairman, traversed what had been done up to the present stage, and said that evory local body with the exception of the Harbor Board, liad passed resolutions opp sing tho by-law, and asking the Taranaki County Council to stay tlielr hand. It. liad been understood that the Taranaki Council would not enforce tho by-law till the result of the discussion at tiio Dominion Counties' Conference was known. Tho speaker read telegrama from tiie Whnngamomona County Council and tho Manaia Town Board apoligislng for absence, and supporting Mr. Wilkinson's Bill.

Mr. Dixon (Mayor of Ilawera}, said ho did not know that ttoe tax would affect Hawcra very much, except in so far as pleasure trips were concerned. He had understood that the chairman of the Taranaki County Council had giren a promise that the tax would not ho imposed on all vehicles using the roads. , Mr. .Bui-Bess (Mayor of New Plymouth), said that on learning tiiat the by-law was to come into fore" his Council had circularised all local in Taranaki, and the response had been rul. It was most unfair that only two bodies should have trio power to impose this tax. If Taranaki had the power so should all other bodies. Under the hy-law no ono could approach New Plymouth without paying the tax. It was necessary for tho good of the province that there should be free communication between each part He hoped that as a result of the discussion on tho remit sent to the Dominion Conference somo satisfactory proposal would bo placed before the Government. -Mr. Burgess then handed Mr nine a number of clippings from newspapers showing what had been douo to opposu the by-law. Mr. O. .T Hawken (chairman of the Hftwern County Council), said he could not say that if tho Taranaki County Council had the powoi 4 to impose tho by-law tho Ilawera County Council should have it also. Mr. P Stevenson {W.imato West County Council), said ho very much doubted if the Taranaki County Council had the right to impose a lax of £T> for travelling over a road mire. Kel'oro a by-law could bo administered it had 1o be just. Ho thought Mr Wilkinson should be complimented on his endeavour to tal.o away the powsir exorcised by tho Taranaki Cuunty Council. His Coundl was quite opposed to tho by-law. Ho had been of the opinion that, the Taranaki County Coupneil had been playing a game of bluft. Mr. W. Wright County Council), said that while his Council was opposed to the by-law there had been rather much destructive criticism, but revenue had to be obtaired. More money was needed and that was the question the Minister wuuld need to consider. Mr. Cameron (Stratford Borough Council) said that his borough bad a lot of sympithy with tho Taranaki County Council, whic* uipy ihouvht should get some revenue from tho outside tra (Ho using their roads, but thought tliev wero going tho wrong way about it. The only equitable way was for tho Government to put on a tyre tax which vould fail i-ic-.t. heavily nn the man who damaged the reads mosr—the scorcher Hj did not agree with the Municipal <\.iifcrence that, the tyro tax would bo too difficult tu collect. Mr. Kogers (Opium ke Town Board), said he agreed with much Unit, had been said by previous speakers. Ho did nor believe in placing a fence across tho King's higlnvay. Tho harbor was at. Now Plymouth, and it was most unfair that the 'harbor .shoult be fenced of? from the rest of Taranaki. Mr. Piggot (Clifton County Council), j'aid that if tho tax was going to be collected f.-otn the ratepayers in his county they might have to consider the introduction of the tax themselves.

Tlic Minister: How many toll gates are tliero In your County! Mr. I'issot: One. Mr. T. \V. Owen (Farmers' Union), said he sau' no reason why motor traffic should not In some way conlributo towards the extra oust of maintenance due to the wear and lent of the mads caused by them. If a lyre las wuuld give sufllelent money such a tux should be imposed, aud some of the tax should go to local iiodies. .Mr. O'N'elll (Stratford County Council), said that Ills Council had carried a motion opposing the by-law as arbitrary. ,Mr. .T. T (juin referred tn the unfairness o<: uill gates. the whole question vesolied itself into what, area should constitute a county. At one time there were i£t eouailes in Now Zealand. The boundaries of enmities should lie determined liy the tralllc, and iiicy would net over the trouble. He described tho gathering as a miniature peace conference, which meant that they were out to rob anybody else. Mr. J. Campbell (Eltham Borough Council) said ho saw no reason why Taranaki County Council should not tlo as other counties if they vvanted good roads, and ralso tho money Ijv loan. J.lr. Eelliingcr (town clerk, Xew riymoutn), said it had been recognised that the matter of road construction had undergone a great change and that motor traflle should contribute, hut tho Government should collect tho tax and return the money to local bodies _in proportion to the mileage of main road which had to bo maintained. It was a national question. Mr. Conurtt (Taranaki County Council), naiil, lie, with his Council, had been subjected to a good deal of host lie criticism, but they were satisfied that much good would come out of the by-law. They would yet attain the desired end. and it. would he recognised that motor traffic should find a fair share of the inoniV necessary for the roads. He quite agreed that all roads led to New Plymouth, and it was to get at tills foreign traffic, that tho by-law was passed. They quite admitted that the by-laws were not the most fair and equitable manner of collecting revenue hut they had to use tile means available. They would have preferred toll gait's could permission have been obtained. They had to have better roads, but they knew that the ratepayers would never vote for a loan unless they could deal with the motor traffic. They felt also that by acting they would bring the whole matter of motor traffic under public discussion, and produce a change for the better. It would bo some time before tlicy could get any revenue from a Government measure, and it had, therefore, became necessary to enforce the by-law for a time. He was prepared to have a reciprocal arrangement. Replying to Mr. Quln, Mr. Connett said the rate for lils district, was 2Vad. If all should pay tho same rate why not have a fiat rate for the whole of Taranaki, and those who had good land help those who had poor land? 'i

Jlr. TTino said the discussion had been a verv interesting one. He had been prepared to hear the chairman nf the Taranaki County Council say that, having drawn the attention nf the Government to the matter he was propared to hold the hy-law up for some time, but he had siren no such undertaking. Perhaps lie was not in a position to da so. The local government qucstum was becoming more, acute each year, and something drastic and effective would have to bo dono in the near fuiurer He pointed out that the privilege the Taranaki County Council had now exercised could be obtained by any other local body on an application to the Government by an Order-in-{'ouneii, and up to the present 10 applications had been received. Though the Act eaiue into force in 18951 it. had been a dead letter. At the same t.iino the Government should not. take away the power to levy tho tax without giving something as an equivalent. With regard to arterial roads that was a Government question, and would havo to be dealt with by the Government. Ho had his own opinion, hut could not say what, tho Government would do He strongly favored a motor tyre tax, and would do his hest to Induce the Government to adopt it. but the time was short, and they could not meddle with the tariff on the eve of an election. He hardly knew what conclusion to come to seeing that the chairman of the Tnranakl County Council was not going to indicate what ho intended to do. Either the Taranaki Count?

Council must stay Its hand or the Government must revoke the order undpr which it was acilng. Ho could not promise that a motor tyre tax would be imposed this session or that there would bo any increase of aubsidy. The only way to afford relief would be to Impose taxation by special Bill. It seemed 'to him that tiie Taranaki County Council would have lo do the beneflclent thing and stay their hand for three months. If not, as Minister in cliargo of tho Department, he would feel compelled to ask the Government' for power to revoke the Ofder-in-Councll, not only for the Taranaki County, but for any other County imposing a burdensome tax. Ha recognised tho Bleat traffic due lo motor c;.rs, and favored steps to impose a motor tax as suggested. He did not think that relief was necessary to Taranaki County only; it should be given to every other district. Ho did not think there would be much difficulty with the departmental staff in collecting the suggested tax. In regard t,o a suggestion that an Increased Government subsidy meant taxing the working! man, he sai-1 the Government had no desire to. do that. Mr. (luin: They do that at the present time. Part of tiie money came from the consolidated revenue and tlioso who contributed to the revenuo had no representation on County Councils. Mr. Hine said that In such cases the contributors had representation in Parliament. He pointed out that llie working man was entitled to use roads without paying rates. He had hoped tho Taranaki Council would, of their own volition, agree to hold tho matter over for three months. No doubt some Ineutiß would be found cither before or after the election for meeting the case. He could asure them that the Government intended to put local Government law on a sounder footing than tt had been for many years. Many alterations had been mado, but nothing important had been done for fifteen years. A voice: Why? Mr. Hine: Because, I suppose, there has been no unanimity with local bodies. He thought the tyro tax would be a good thing, and It should be distributed In proportion to the amount of. rates collected by tho local bodies Ho did not agree fllth the ninlii road mileage basis. Some did not declare main roads. Ho would ask 'Mr, Connett whether he would be prepared to stay his hand for three or six months. He must recognise that It was impossible for a Government Just reconstructed and on the eve of an election to do much with tho tariff or recast the local body laws. If given three months he believed the Government, could bring down a scheme satisfactory to the whole country, and which ivould be accepted by piactically tho whole House. Asl#d. if ho was In favor of abolishing toll gctes, Mr. Hine said lie could not favor the abolition till a Local Government Beform Bill was brought down, and under tho Bill he would abolish toll gates, and also wluel tajxes Beplylng to Mr..(luin, the Minister said he would not favor giving the same Government assistance to tho County Council which collected a %d -rato as tho Council which collected a higlior rate. The subsidy should be based on the amount of the whole of the rates collected in the county. Mr. Connett was then invited to speak by the chairman, and as he rose a member of the deputation called out: "Be generous." Mr. Connett said he had no authority to (lo anything. fie wished to be quite plain ivitli the meeting. His Council had brought torward tho proposals to help them carry a loan. They promised the ratepayers that the tax would be imposed In order to relieve them of part of the -payments, on the loan. Whn'. would, the Council's position be now? That, was one aspect. Then the opposition to tho by-laws was coming from outside counties. Ho was confident that satisfactory arrangements could be made with tin: Eginont County Council, and as for the Stratford County Council lie had proposed that no vehicle which had paid toll at tho Stratford Council's gate .should be required to pay the tax, but his proposal had not been accepted. He could, lie felt sure, come to terms with the Clifton County Council, Ho thought thoy should i>-e allowed to go in and arrange with their neighbours as they pleased. As for the proposition put before him ho could only say that It would be placed before Ills Council next Monday, when It would receive every consideration .Mr. Burgess then moved: That this conference, representing practically tho whole of tho local bodies of Taranaki. respectfully urges upon the Government to take up, as a Govern-. mwit measure, the Bill introduced, by Mr. \\ ilkinson, ,\[ I'., to abolish tin l special powers conferred upon a limiled number of Oounty Councils to, make by-laws imposing license toes upon owners of vehicles travelling over tho road;; in those particular counties, and that in order to provide the necessary funds for tliu upkeep of arterial roads, the 'Government. be urged also to give effect this session to the resolutions relating to a tyre tax'passed at a previous meeting of this conference. Mr. I, Mann seconded the motion, which ivus carried. Votes of thanks to the Hon. J. B, Hine and tho chairman were passed.