PETROL TAX.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 10

PETROL TAX.

REBATE TO LAUNCHES

PROPOSED DIVERSION

BOAT OWNERS' OPPOSITION,

A proposal by the Bay of Inlands Harbour Boar.l that the rebate of a portion of the petrol tax, at present allowed to launch owners, should be diverted to the funds of harbour boards was discussed last evening at a meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association. At present the tax on petrol amounts to l(Hd per gallon. When it was decided to use the revenue, or part of it, for road maintenance, a concession was made, in fairness, to owners of launches. A rebate of a portion of the tax, amounting to (id per gallon, is allowed each quarter where the owner supplies the necessary information as to the horse-power, distance run, etc. It is this amount that the Bay of Inlands Harbour Board suggests should bo paid into the revenue of the harbour boards. The remit, which will come before the annual conference of Harbour Boards to be held at Christchurch at the end of this month, reads as follows: "That thiri conference of harbour boards place before the Government the desirability of the petrol tax refunded to launch owners being allocated to harbour boards, particularly as private launches use, without any charge, all facilities provided." The chairman of the association, Mr. C. H. Palmer, said last night that the matter was a very serious one, for the owners of both pleasure and working boats. After some discussion, in which the unfairness of taxing boat owners for the upkeep of roads was mentioned, Mr. E. FT. Northcroft moved that the association write to the conference of harbour boards an<l to the Government expressing the association's strong disapproval of the proposals. In seconding the motion. Mr. W. A. Wilkinson suggested that the Southern yachting associations be notified of the proposal to divert the rebate and they be asked to support the action to oppose it. This was also agreed to. The remit is strongly opposed by the launchmen of Russell, who point out that if adopted it would seriously interfere with tlie deep sea fishing business, as the tax would have to bo passed on to visiting sportsmen. In view of the serious position, they forwardel the remit to the Richmond Club, whose delegates were instructed to lay it before the association.