LICENCE FEES FOR FARMERS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22727, 3 June 1939, Page 16

LICENCE FEES FOR FARMERS

o THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT [From Our Own Reporter.] TEMUKA. June 2. Whether or not farmers’ motorvehicles were subject to heavy motorvehicle regulations is clarified by the letter from the Commissioner of Transport. Mr G. L. Lauronson, to the Tcmuka branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-night. Mr Lauronson wrote that the application of the heavy motor-vehicle regulations, and the fees thereunder, was based on the gross weight of the respective motor-lorry and load. If the gross weight at any time exceeded two ions, then the regulations and fees applied to the vehicle. A heavy traflic licence would be required for carting by a farmer on a county road, and the traflic regulations applied on country roads. A farm tractor on the roads was governed by all the usual regulations, but it was exempted from licence fees and heavy traffic fees; also refund of the tax on motor spirils_ used on it was payable. The only action required, therefore, would be: Registration—free of charge; "E’ plates, 2s; third party insurance premium. 10s. A warrant of fitness was not required for a farm tractor. The same applied to the trailer drawn ■ by the tractor, save that the third party insurance for this was 6s. If, however, the tractor or trailer were not used on the road but kept on the farm, then the traffic laws and the third party insurance provisions did not apply to it. Temporary Licence In the case where a farm motorvehicle was used on the roads only for a short time, the heavy traffic fees would be levied only for the balance of the respective quarter during which the vehicle was used. The ordinary licence fees and insurance would be payable for the balance of the licensing year, but a refund of the insurance premium could possibly be granted through the respective insurance company. The commissioner said that the question was frequently raised as to whether farm implements drawn on a road by a tractor required to be licensed. Although rfo licence fees were payable, plates costing 2s and third party insurance premium of 6s were necessary. “The Government has at present under consideration a review of the whole question of motor taxation, and will give special consideration in this connexion to the taxation on farm trucks,” Mr Laurenson concluded.