MOTOR TAXATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1938, Page 4

MOTOR TAXATION

DISPOSAL OF THE PROCEEDS MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL OPINIONS “If that were done the Government would have to find another million and a half in taxation from somewhere,” observed Councillor 'H. H. Mawley when referring at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton County Council to a letter from the Canterbury Progress League asking the council to join in a combined effort to urge the Government to devote the whole of the net proceeds from motor taxation to reading purposes. The chairman, Mr Gordon Lee, said there was no harm in agreeing with the suggestion, but if the Government wanted the money, it did not matter what department it came out of.

“It is a very ticklish problem,” remarked Councillor W. I. Armstrong, who added that he did not agree with the Canterbury resolution. Councillor J. W. Colquhoun: “It is no good unless we can show the Government where it is going to get the money from.” Councillor G. Moore: “The 192 per cent tax on petrol seems absurd. It is an absolute tax on industry. It is a very serious thing for the development of this country to have transport tqxed so heavily.” Councillor Mawley: “The 4Jd a gallon tax on petrol is solely a revenue tax, and as long as we get the rest of the money we are legally entitled to, that is as much as we can expect.” It was decided to receive the letter.