PETROL TAX PROPOSALS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 3

PETROL TAX PROPOSALS

Mayor’s Advice To Farmers (New Zealand. Press Association) . AUCKLAND, May 22. The proposed Auckland Id-a-gallon petrol tax might well be applied all over New Zealand, the revenue to be spent on spacial projects such as the Lyttelton road tunnel, said the Mayor of Auckland (Mr T. W. M. Ashby) when opening the Federated Farmers' Auckland provincial conference today. On road taxes generally, Mr Ashby said there was a case for partial derating of farm land. The present petrol tax mainly financed highway construction and maintenance, but did not touch subsidiary roads, he said. “We artmoving towards the stage where all road rates could be found from motor taxation,” he said. The present system was not. equitable between the counties or between counties and towns. Mr Ashby continued. The debtfree counties gained large subsidies from the National Roads Fund, which were denied the poorer areas. The time was ripe, he said, for re-examination of the National Roads Act. In addition, there should be a uniform charge for petrol, Mr Ashby suggested. The present system worked unfairly against outback settlers.

Bungalows Passed In. —Two five-roomed bungalows in Massey crescent, St. Albans, were offered at auction in Christchurch. The first bungalow was passed in at £2450. Bidding opened at £2OOO and rose by four bids of £lOO and one of £5O. The second bungalow was passed in at £2300- Bidding opened at £2OOO and rose by two bids of £lOO and two of £5O.