Spread Of Tax On Road Users

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 18

Spread Of Tax On Road Users

f.Vi-tr Zealand Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. 26.

The Government believed the paying of motor tax should be spread as equitably 7 as possible onto all road users, the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) said tonight. He was speaking during discussion on the Transport Amendment (No. 2) Bill.

No clause singled out any type of vehicle or person for special consideration. he said.

Mr J. Mathison (Opp., Avon) said he believed that clause six of the bill was designed absolutely and exclusively to be detrimental to local bodies.

The clause requires local bodies’ to pay full taxation rates on vehicles previously exempt. Mr Mathison said this would mean the clause would be to the benefit of private contractors.

"It does not matter about the ratepayer or local body as long as the private contractor gets the advantage," he said.

I Mr D. J. Carter (Govt.. Ras Ilan) said a Government cau cus committee had been con I sidering motor taxation for 15 I months, to find a new basis I proportionate to road use I Agreement had been I reached with all groups interviewed apart from the coun I ties and municipalities. ! On taxi contracts. Mr CarIter said it had never been I intended taxi proprietors 'would be fined the maximum amount for breaching contract terms. The proprietors had not taken any chances in the drawing up of the terms and had entered into negotiations with the committee. The negotiations had been successful On the clause which made it a binding contract to telephone and order a taxi-cab. the Deputy Leader of the Op position (Mr Watt) said some members thought this severe The amendment, however, did clarify the position somewhat The regulations the Minister of Transport read to the House made it clear that if the taxi had a reasonable ex--cuse. it would be a defence Mr Watt warned there were two sides to very question. The clause placed the onus on to the driver, but no responsibility on the person making the initial order for a taxi.

He said he hoped the department would be careful in how the provision was administered.

Turning to clauses 6 and 10 by which the system of taxation was divided into classes for payment of motor spirit taxation, Mr Watt claimed those two provisions meant ratepayers would be paying half a million pounds to the Government for roading they were doing themselves. It was a form being used by the Government to get additional revenue into the Nation Roads Board.

On the clause dealing with taxi contracts. Dr. A. M. Finlay (Opp., Waitakere) said it was clear the bill originally did not do what the Minister of Transport said it would when he introduced the measure.

Now while a liability was imposed on the taxi companies there was no right of compensation against futile, abortive orders.

Dr. Finlay said he had been told it was not uncommon for Wellingtonians to ring up each company to ask that a taxi be sent to one address. They then would take the first taxi to arrive.

The bill was given a second reading.

Stationery Store

The Government Printing Office is centralising its stationery department bv transferring all its stocks into a new 40,000 square feet warehouse at Evans Bav. The building will also house all forms used by 20 Government departments.—(P.A.)

Referee Oles—The North Island vice-president of the New Zealand Rugby Referee’s Association, Mr G. H. Woodroofr died in Rotorua on Mondav He was 55.