FARM TRACTORS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 295, 26 September 1935, Page 8

FARM TRACTORS

REASON FOR REGISTRATION.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, September 25,

Mr R. W. Hawke (C., Kaiapoi) asked the Minister of Transport a few days ago whether he will exempt from all taxation farm tractors used exclusively for the cultivation of soil. Mr Coates replied as follows: At present all farm tractors are exempted from taxation provided they do not use the roads. The position of farm tractors which do use the roads has changed in recent months, hut not owing to any action taken by the Government. , Until this year successive Governments had arranged with the registrar of motor vehicles that farm tractors used solely in connection with the owner’s farm would be permitted to use the publie roads to proceed from one part of the owner’s farm to a another for distances not exceeding one mile. Provided these conditions were complied with there was no obligation to register or license a tractor under the Motor Vehicles Act, In April of this year the Controller and AuditorGeneral queried the validity of this arrangement, and it was necessary, therefore, to review the position of such tractors. In May last an Order-in-Council was issued by which tractors used on. roads only in connection with the owner’s farm work are permitted 1 to travel the roads to an unlimited extent provided! they are registered at a nonr-recurring cost of £l, and are also insured against third party risks at an annual cost of 10s premium and 20s for “E” plates. By this insurance the owner would. be protected against third party claims for personal damages due to the tractor being used negligently on the. roads. A irefund! of the road tax on motor spirits used in all agricultural tractors may be claimed irrespective oi the manner in which they are used.