Transport Bill Protest

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 3

Transport Bill Protest

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 19.

The Municipal Association and the Counties’ Association want some proposals in the Transport Amendment Bill. withdrawn or postponed until they can make representations on them.

The secretary of the Counties’ Association (Mr T. M. McKewen) and the secretary of the Municipal Association (Mr C. L. Bishop) said today:

“The Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) recently referred to taxation proposals in respect of local authority and Government road-making vehicles which had been hitherto exempt from such taxes. “He stated that there had been much dissatisfaction over the years about unfair competition to transport operators from local body trucks and that the discrimination against private contractors was to be removed. “The Minister also stated that the extra taxation would go to the National Roads Fund and that the result could make local authorities better off financially. “Both the New Zealand

Counties’ Association and the Municipal Association of New Zealand have made strong representations to a committee of Parliament protesting that the proposals were objectionable to the local authorities,” they said. The proposals would increase roading costs and offer protection to roading contractors, some of whom were over-committed on road works subsidised by the National Roads Board.

Both associations disagreed with the Minister’s statement that local authorities would be better off. They want him to verify the statement and to withdraw the bill until it has been fully considered by all parties. “Previously the exemptions were provided under the act. Now it is proposed that the Minister is to be given power to make certain exemptions by regulations. “The associations state that there is no chance of the additional revenue being made available to local authorities on the basis upon which they will be called to pay the additional taxes. In addition local authorities will be required to provide more money from revenue if they are to recover additional moneys from the National Roads Board by way of subsidies.

“The associations are strongly opposed to the passing of the legislation during the dying hours of the session and consider that their members have not had the proper opportunity of studying the proposals fully and making their representations. "They seek the withdrawal or postponement of the proposals until the associations and their members have had ample opportunity of making such an examination and representations.”