PETROL TAX

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 9

PETROL TAX

DISCUSSION BY MOTORCYCLISTS PIONEER CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING It was not generally known by members that the South Island Motor Union had made representations on their behalf, and on behalf of other motorists, to the Government seeking a reduction of the high tax on petrol, said the president of the motor-eycle section of the Pioneer Motor Club (Mr L. A. France), addressing the annual meeting of the club last evening. . , Only 6d of the Is 3d tax on petrol, which cost 2s 7d a gallon, was diverted to the Main Highways Fund, said Mr France, so that, although £35,000,000 or £40,000,000 had been paid in taxes on motor spirit during the last 27 years, motorists were paying interest on something like £15,000,000. “Fifty per cent, of you here use much more petrol than the average motorist,” he said, “and in my case, of the money which I pay for the 300 gallons I use each year, £2O goes into the- Government’s coffers.” “The extra tariff which was imposed in Augst, 1939, is still in force, and this should not be,” he said. Unless motorists aired their grievance in the matter, he said, the Government would do nothing to abolish the present high petrol tax, which was, in effect, a class tax. “Maori Goat-tracks” Mr L. Tullett told the meeting that, on a recent trip in the North Island, he discovered that arterial roads traversing populated districts, and ostensibly under the authority of the Main Highways Board, were nothing better than Maori goat-tracks. It was highway robbery, said Mr Tullett, when the Government diverted funds accruing from, petrol taxation to other ends than road improvement. The money paid by motorists in petrol tariff was being shamelessly spent, and no reciprocal amenity was being offered by the authorities... • The delegate to the South Island Motor Union (Mr R. H. Parker), suggested that the club would be satisfied if the Government abolished the war tax on petrol of 4d a gallon, which was imposed as an emergency measure in 1939. The remainder of the tax (lid) would willingly be paid, he thought, if motorists received an assurance that it would be utilised for roads. There was general approval of the chairman’s suggestion that the abolition of lat least part of the petrol tax be discussed outside the club amongst motorists or motor-cyclists not associated with the organisation. Election of Officers It was decided that the club be registered as an incorporated society, and the constitution was adopted. The following officers were elected for the new year:— patron, Mr F. R. Jones; president, Mr L. Tullett; vice-presidents, Messrs N. Harris and A. W. Bond; captain, Mr A. G. Holland; vice-captain, Mr N. Pierson; committee, Messrs R. Whyte, E. Ransley, R. Parker, L. A. France, B. Wynne-Yorke, L. Wilkinson, H. Christie, and A. Robinson; secretary, Mr D. N. Cresswell; assistantsecretary, Mr J. Kerr; treasurer, Mr R. T. Burt.