CHARGES MUST RISE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 6

CHARGES MUST RISE

EFFECT OF PETROL TAX INCREASE DELIVERY AND OTHER SERVICES. SERIOUS BURDEN ON FARMERS. “Road transport costs are going up and town carrying charges must follow." stated a Masterton operator tills morning when asked by a "TimesAge” reporter what effect the extra petrol tax would have on the transport business. Taxi proprietors stated that they would be affected seriously but that as yet no meeting had been called to consider the question of increasing fares. Bakers and grocers said that the cost of delivering their goods would be greatly increased. Whether or not extra delivery charges would be brought in had not yet been decided, but they were of opinion that it would have to be seriously considered. "I use 115 to 120 gallons of petrol a week.” said one baker, who added that the burden of extra tax would be a very serious thing for him. “if the public are willing to co-oper-ate with us by giving us their orders the day before and thus save overlapping I don't think that the price of meat will be increased,” said one of Masterton’s largest butchers. “That of course rests with the public,” he added.

Two Wairarapa firms which operate large motor fleets stated that so far no move had been made to increase carrying charges, but that they expected that something definite would be done within the- next week. “It will all eventually find its way back to the public,” said another. The principal of one large Masterton firm said that his firm did not increase the petrol cost immediately. “In our pumps there were quite a number of gallons and we considered that the public had a right to it at the old price,” he said. "I am going to take direct action against the Government by putting my car in the garage and using it only when absolutely necessary,” was the comment heard from a 'Masterton resident this morning and indications are that other residents in the town have decided to keep their petrol bill at the normal level despite the increased taxation by doing proportionately less mileage. Several men commented that they were going to walk or cycle to work instead of using their cars as they had done in the past. Farmers, however, are not in a position to adopt such an attitude. Some who were approached on the question pointed out that the further they were away from town the greater was the penalty. The backblock farmer would be penalised out of all reason by the increased tax. In addition the tax went on to his tractor and lorry running costs as well as on petrol used in motor milking machines, where electricity was not installed in the cowsheds. “What with increased petrol tax and heavy traffic fees, a farmer will soon be back to the horse and cart,” observed another landowner. TWENTY PER CENT RISE EFFECT ON COMMERCIAL USERS. AUCKLAND, August 3. “The increased taxation on petrol amounts to approximately a 20 per cent increase in the costs of users of commercial vehicles,” said the secretary of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, Mr H. J. Knight, when commenting upon the Government’s action in increasing the petrol tax by 4d a gallon. “It will be the subject of a conference among the New Zealand Carriers’ Federation, the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance and the New Zealand Passenger Services Federation in Wellington on August 15.” He added that it seem that the increased cost would be passed on.

TAXATION 'ON PETROL EQUAL TO PRICE IN ENGLAND.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ) WELLINGTON, This Day. . ? All users of motor vehicles will sufi fer by the increase of 4d a gallon in ; the price of petrol. Mr E. A. . Batt, - chairman of the executive committee ;• of the Wellington Automobile Associa- ' tion. stated yesterday that the taxation now levied on petrol in New Zealand was equal to the whole price charged for motor spirit in England, which he considered to be a preposterous- position. The increased cost to the Wellington City Corporation would be £l5OO a year. Representatives of the North Island Motor Union and the South Island Motor Union discussed yesterday in' Wellington the increase in the petrol tax, but no statement was made for publication. A statement is expected soon. HIGHER TAXI FARES INCREASE IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, August 3. The rise in the price of petrol by 4d a gallon was followed swiftly by an increase in taxi fares in the city. The metropolitan licensing authority, which convened a special meeting at short notice, was presented by taxi firms with evidence of the effects of increased cost:; on the industry, .and had no hesitation in granting permission for taxi fares to be increased by 3d a trip. The increase will not apply to lares which taxis are. permitted to charge for service to racecourses from within a quarter of a mile of Cathedal Square. REORGANISATION DESIRED TO PUBLIC MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE. WELLINGTON. This Day. Inquiries today suggest that it is unlikely that there will be any immediate increase in taxi faros in Wellington as the result of the increase in the petrol tax. The manager of a leading taxi firm said it was anticipated that the additional cost to the industry in Wellington would amount to between £3OOO and £4OOO a year, but there was some opposition to passing this on to the public. He expressed the view that what was needed in Wellington was a complete reorganisation of the | business to reduce overhead costs and give the public a more efficient service. i