NATIONAL ROADS FUND

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 6

NATIONAL ROADS FUND

Support For Separate Account

SOUTH ISLAND MOTOR UNION’S VIEW

The executive committee of the South Island Motor Union last evening expressed its “strong disagreement” with the criticism by the Audi-tor-General (Mr C. J. Atkin) of the establishment of a separate National Roads Fund. The committee said it considered that taxation motorists were called on to pay was a special tax for a special purpose, and as such should be paid into a special fund under the control of the National Roads Board. Mr Atkin said that the delegation to a special body outside Parliament, such as the National Roads Board, of the right to spend public money, especially where funds were collected as ordinary taxation, seriously weakened the constitutional control of expenditure by Parliament He said the setting aside of special revenues for special expenditure was not in the best interests of public accounting. The president (Mr P. W. Breen), who is also a member of the National Roads Board, said it was peculiar that these comments should be made as motorists had been pressing for nearly 30 years for the special taxation on motor-; ists to be put into a fund. They appreciated the action of the Government and Mr Goosman in piloting the National Roads Bill through Parliament. He did not think the AuditorGeneral’s remarks would be given more than passing consideration by the Government. His remarks would rather tend to emphasise “our appreciation of the Government in setting up this board.” .Mr W. R. McCallum said he thought that the Auditor-General had found a technicality and he felt compelled to comment on it. The Auditor-General believed that the moneys should be handled as ordinary Government funds, said Mr Robert Wilson.

Mr Breen: The Government would then have to be approached by the

board for every grant We would be back where we have been for the last 25 years. “I feel that although the present Government may not be unduly influenced by the Auditor-General’s comments, it is desirable that the Government should receive the full support of the motor unions for the legislation now on the Statute Book,” said Mr Walter M. Richardson, a vicepresident of the union, in a letter. “The union’s comments should be of such a nature as to receive wide publicity in order that not only the Government, but the motorist, realises the importance of what we contend is the correct principle now established by legislation—that motor taxation goes directly to the National Roads Board. For years we have all fought to secure this principle. In my personal opinion, it would be a great pity if the comments of the Auditor-General were allowed to pass without comment. They will certainly have the effect of raising doubts in the minds of the community who are not motorists.” ,