STORM WATER AT MERCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 10 July 1928, Page 17

STORM WATER AT MERCER.

Reports received in the city from Mercer on Sunday were of a rather alarming nature, but on Monday morning it was found that there was nothing to cause undue inconvenience, provided ordinary care were exercised. At' the southern end of the railway station an embankment is being thrown np to raise and widen the road, and between this and the railway line the heavy rain on Sunday had caused water to lodge to a depth of about 9 inches. Several cars which attempted to negotiate this water at speed experienced trouble with their electric equipment, but those drivers who dropped into second gear and travelled through the water slowly had absolutely no. trouble. At the present time, although the Waikato River is rising, there is no immediate danger of flond from this source.

• '» -+~9- £ '"The taxation on commercial vehicles is considerably more inequitable, but this aspect will, no doubt, be dialt with by the taxpayers mainly interested. We feel that a strong protest should be made to the Government as .stated herein, and that the Government's long-overdue investigations upon the transport question as relating to taxation should be made available. Mr. Kdwards enlarged on his report, and pointed <- 'i that car cost in America was £<; 10/7. ii .ainst New Zealand's £31 11/2. He thought that the union should approach the (Government to iearn what was the result of the investigation ot motor tran?]>ort. If the taxation was based on fair figures, the union would have nothing to complain of, but the taxation was hidden. Mr. H. H. Mawley pointed out that all the motor taxation was not going towards the maintenance of roads —Customs duty, for instance. After further discussion, it'was decided to write to the Prime Minister with particular reference to section 3 of Mr. \ Edwards' report.