PETROL TAX.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 12

PETROL TAX.

♦ ■ ■ AN INCREASE FAVOURED. [THE PBSO3 Special Strvfco.] WELLINGTON, July 8. A recommendation that an extra petrol tax of 3d per gallon be imposed to be devoted entirely tow«rds all expenditure by county councils on roads other than deelsred main highways was made to the conference of the New Zealand Counties' Association to-day by a Committee set tip to consider remits relating to the petrol tox and the motor regulations. The report was as follows: (1) That counties are now unduly burdened with rates to provide for the construction and maintenance of roads which burden has not in the aggregate been lessened by the main highways contribution. (2) That some substantial relief from the rate burdem is imperative. (3) That in the Committee's opinion all road expenditure is entitled to a contribution from the petrol tax as all roads are used by motor traffic. (4) That, the Committee therefore recommends that while the main highways system should be maintained, an extra petrol tax of 3d per gallon be imposed to be entirely devoted towards all expenditure by county councils on roads other than declared main highways. In regard to the remits relating to the ff,ortc»r regulations, the Committee deem & desirable to await the recommendations to be made shortly by the Transport Department and thftt when they acre made known the executive should be authorised to discuss them and watch she interests of the Association The report was adopted by a large majority after an animated discussion, th& consensus of opinion being that the near of the road should be made to pay tcfr any expendltore in connexion witfe Vft rood.