More Money Sought For Roads Board

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29233, 17 June 1960, Page 9

More Money Sought For Roads Board

The abolition of 4d a gallon fiscal tax on motor sp ir its and the increase by 4d a gallon on duty to provide additional revenue for the National Roads Board ■were supported by the Counties’ Association’s conference yesterday.

c ? l^ eren F e adopted a Waikato remit, moved by Mr E. J. Crouch.

“It is generally known among motorists that although there is f trong objection to the petrol tax being used for general taxation purposes, there would be little opposition if the duty was increased to provide additional funds for expenditure on roads,’’ jaid Mr Crouch. “The remit jhould meet with the approval of a ll local authorities in areas where allocation has been totally inadequate to meet the needs.” The Royal Commission on Local Authority Finance said that 3d of tbe 4d tax should be paid to the Roads Board for distribution, said Mr Crouch. “We have to get more money If we want to make the progress. we are endeavouring to make with our roads.” said Mr J. L. Wallis (Otorohanga). ‘’There does appear to be reluctance to borrow money. They prefer to get it out of revenue and this is the easiest way to do tt. From what one gathers, if people get better roads they don’t mind paying for them. It is not increasing the general level of taxation. It is a way which would appear to be acceptable to the public. Money from petrol taxation should, surely, be spent on the roads.” While he appreciated the intentions and hopes raised by Waikato, the conference was treading on rather dangerous ground, said Mr H. L Riley (Golden Bay). “In fact, I don’t think it is this conference’s right to tell any Government what taxation it should increase and where it should put it,” said Mr Riley. Government Action The Government had acted contrary to the principles when the Roads Board was established when it imposed Is a gallon taxation and put the revenue in the Consolidated Fund, said Mr A. G. Stevens (Waitemata). As a private motorist, he would be very pleased to see the 4d tax removed but, as a local body member. interested in the financing of roads, he thought that the remaining tax should be transferred to the Roads Board. It represented an extra income of £4,000.000 a year. “No-one here today will say we cannot well do with that extra £4,000,000,” said Mr Stevens. If the 4d taxation was removed, the greatest difficulty would be met ia having it restored for Roads Board funds. Mr L D. Hunt (Rotorua) said he strongly supported extra funds for the Roads Board. More than 50 per cent of the counties did not get sufficient money to service their back country roads. Mr F. D. Onion (Waipawa) advocated the removal of the tax and the transfer of the tax for reading purposes. Good roads, he said, reduced transport costs, which were estimated at 3d lower a mile on a sealed road than on a gravelled road. Answering Mr Riley, Mr Crouch said: "It is a poor show if we cannot make recommendations to the Government.” The remit was adopted. Bigger Appropriation The appropriation of not less than £2,000,000 a year from the

Consolidated Fund for National

Roads Board funds was proposed by Waikato. The remit was lost. It was unrealistic to expect ratepayers to provide such a high proportion of reading costs as they did, said Mr Crouch. Indirect users should pay a share. Good roads attracted the tourist trade which was of greater benefit to the general taxpayer than the rural ratepayer. Non-rateable land in the Waikato county was valued at more than £4.000,000 if it was rateable, the rates would amount to £24,000. The Consolidated Fund now provided £1,000,000 to the Roads Board's funds, said Mr L. C. Logan (Raglan), seconding the remit “Do you just realise what you are asking from the Government?” asked Mr N. A. Rattray (Waimate). “You are asking them to give up 4d a gallon, rightly or wrongly imposed—wrongly, most of us think. Now, we are asking for another £1,000,000, making a total of £5,000,000. I think you want to be a little realistic. If you get the 4d a gallon transferred, it would be better to get away from Government funds.” One million pound was the exact payment made by the board to the Government for administration by the Ministry of Works, said Mr Rattray. The remit was declared “lost,” by a substantial majority.” Chairmanship Of Board

“That the chairman of the Roads Board be neither a member of Parliament nor a public servant," was a Patangata remit. The council, said Mr P. T. Colons, was in no way questioning the integrity or efficiency of past chairmen, but in dealing with many policy matters confronting the board the chairman owed particular allegiance to the Government If the remit was put into effect, the possibility of political Pressure on a chairman would be less likely to oocur. There were men worthy of conducting the board’s affairs and who would give every confidence to the counties.

“It is highly desirable that a board of such importance should be clear of any suggestion of Political views of the Govemaof the day," said Mr B. C. n (Waipawa), seconding the remit.

Mr B. W. W. Williams (WaiaPu) suggested that the board be allowed to elect its own chairroan. Representatives other than of the Government held a majority. When he read the remit, the Minister of Works would think the counties were preparing a blood-bath for him, said Mr R. Philp (Buller). It was unwise, whatever the Government might be, fo.’ the chairman to be the Minister of Worts or ■ member of the Gov-

531,1 Mr . D c - Butler (Whakatane). Political pressure, which was hard to resist, could be put on him. He could not speak too highly of Mr Watt who was doing a good job. The Minister had three officials with on the board; those officials would find it hard to vote against them Minister. The board was loaded’ straight away by those four votes; but he did not suggest anything was wrong.

"Dangerous Ground” We are treading on very dangerous ground,” said Mr R. W. Bennett (Franklin). “We are asking the Government to hand over £1,000,000 to an organisation and for it not to have somebody on the board directly responsible to Parliament.”. Under the Act, the board had to give effect to any roading policy communicated to it by the Government, said Mr Rattray. Either the Minister or a departmental officer had to be accepted as the chairman.

“If it is to be one of the two, I would prefer to have the Minister to vote against or speak to, rather than an officer with whom we cannot argue round the board table,” said Mr Rattray. “From my experience of the board since its inception, neither Mr Goosman nor Mr Watt has brought any political pressure. They have brought things before us, and done it gracefully. I cannot see a man who will be generally acceptable as chairman of the board.” The remit was defeated. Loans Opposed

Bridging would be accelerated. Waikato submitted. when it moved that funds for the construction of bridges and land purchase be provided by loan money instead of from National Roads Board revenue.

At the present rate of revenue, the roading could not be built, said Mr L. A. Alexander (Waitara). Power boards had been told to raise loans for development or they would not be supplied with electricity. Mr Rattray suggested that the remit be amended that the Roads Board be authorised to use loan money for urban motorways and land acquisition for that purpose. The amended remit was lost by 70 votes to 36, after several delegates had opposed loan financing of such work. The Roads Board will be asked to approve of county towns undertaking the maintenance of State highways on the same basis as boroughs.