Higher country rates possible

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32706, 8 September 1971, Page 19

Higher country rates possible

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 6.

Country areas might soon have to pay either higher rates for their roads or increased bartage costs, the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) said tonight.

If surveys showed a need for higher road taxes for heavy vehicles on country roads, country communities would face a real challenge, Mr Gordon said in a speech prepared for delivery to Paeroa Jaycees. “Either we can pay higher rates for country roads and retain the present, or appropriate, cartage rates, or we can adopt the ‘user-pay’ principle, and increase cartage costs,” he said. “The counties and the carriers may be consulted on this all too soon for their comfort.” Mr Gordon said this was an example of the kind of ad hoc problem that had to be investigated outside longterm Ministry of Transport planning. Roads were costly to construct and maintain, he said, and one of the adverse affects of advance in tech-

nology was the road damage caused by the new vehicles. “Studies are to be carried out to see who does, and who should, pay,” the Minister said.

Another problem was the cartage of stock on Sundays. “Perhaps the cost could be spread over the whole week, so that all fanners pay equally for the cartage of the stock for the essential Monday killing,” he said.

Friesian bull sale.—A yearling bull, Latona A.T. Astronaught, entered by Latona Farm, Ltd, of Hastings, won the grand championship at the tenth annual national Friesian show and sale at the Claudelands showgrounds, Hamilton, yesterday. The reserve chamipon was a three-year-old Moneville I.C. Potentate, bred by Mr M. S. Rennie, of Mangere.—(P.A.)