HEAVY TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 39, 15 February 1929, Page 9

HEAVY TRAFFIC.

BASIS OF TAXATION.

LOCAX BODIES' CONFERENCE.

NEW SCALE WANTED,

Twelve Auckland local bodies were .represented at a conference held at the Mount Eden Borough Council Chamber last evening, to discuss the fees charged for heavy motor vehicles. Mr. E. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, presided. Newmarket Borough Council suggested an amended scale of charges, including taxation of vehicles under two tons in weight; also that the revenue available for cities and boroughs from the Motor Spirits Taxation Act should be increased from eight to twenty per cent. The chairman said that the Master Carriers' Federation had waited upon the Minister of Public Works, pointing out the unfairness of the existing svstem of taxation, and urging the substitution of a petrol tax. The boroughs were now receiving about eight per cent of the petrol tax, and the Highways Board the balance. Relief could be given if the local bodies got a larger share of the petrol tax.

Mr. K. G. Clark pointed out that as One Tree Hill was a road board area nothing from petrol tax was received. As a borough it would receive approximately £700.

Mr. W. L. Titchener, New Lynn Town Board, urged that the suggested scale of charges relating to vehicles under two tons should be adopted, and that the scale of other fees should be: Up to one ton, solid tyres, £2; to two tons, £4; to one ton, pneumatic tyres, £1 14/; to two tons, £3 8/. These suggestions were approved by resolution. Messrs. Potter, Clark and Titchener were appointed to act as a committee in the event of the Government calling a conference to discuss heaw traffic fees.