TRANSPORT FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 6

TRANSPORT FINANCE.

I would like to ask your correspondent "Civil Engineer" how lie computes the taxation of motor vehicles at three-farthings to one penny per mile. I say tiiat '"Viator" in correct in his version on the costs of the. Whau Road and railway bridges when he says that the users should pay (on the railway they do). The people, or ratepayers, of Helensville made an objection to paying their share, but they will get more than their share of benefit from it. The already overburdened, ratepayers will have their rates increased (or more employees discharged) to pay for the bridge, as the 2400 vehicles per \ day will only pay a portion of the benzine tax towards it. I cannot see liow G'ustoms duties and license fees are, or ought, to pay for the bridge. The _ Custorne duties are to conipen- ; sate the Government for the money earned in the country and sent out of it to pay. for tie car. The license fees, if "Civil Engineer , means heavy traffic feee, are to help to pay the interest on road, improvement. When a motorist spends his money on an imported car he is putting a. New r Zealander out of work for 60 long and stopping the money from eircu-p lating in our own country. In fact the motor car is like a baby; we, the ratepayers; have •fed it long enough, now it is ruining ue and. it is time we weaned it. The only remedy and the fairest way of taxation is for the benzine to pay for'it. The carburettor will not tell lies a-nd the more running or the heavier loads the more benzine will be used. I quite agree with "Civil Engineer" when he eays motor traffic will increase rapidly and the reason is obvious. Someone else is paying for the motor's use of the road. F.G.F.