PETROL TAX.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19154, 10 November 1927, Page 10

PETROL TAX.

MOTORISTS' PROTEST. DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 9. To-morrow motorists from all over the Dominion will meet the Prim© Minister (Hon. Mr Coates) to protest against the amount of the petrol tax. The motorists are quite willing that the tax should be imposed, but object to the amount upon which the Government has settled.

The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. Mr Williams) has informed representative motor bodies that the Government's intention is that there shall be one universal system of taxation for the motorists, and that the petrol tax shall provide it. With this new levy in operation special taxation of motorists by local bodies is to be ended. One of the reasons for the Government's step was that no less than eleven requests had been received from local bodies for permission to introduce local Bills validating taxation or motorists for roadworks. These followed upon the success of the Hutfc road levy, imposed by the Wellington City Council under the Hutt Road Act for the paving in bitumen of a sevenmile strip of main highway between Thorndon and Petone. It is the intention of the motorists' associations to suggest a levy of 2d or 3d instead of the amount fixed. Fourpence is felt to be too much. At the same time, it is recognised that the Government needs for main highways and financing of local bodies must be met, and it is probable that the motorists will accept any tax which is demonstrated to them to be necessary. The present tax will provide a surphis, it is stated, and to surpluses from this taxation the motorists are opposed.