Mileage tax on gas-powered cars

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 14

Mileage tax on gas-powered cars

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 15. Motorists converting their cars from petrol to gas power will face a mileage tax of about 30c for every 100 miles driven.

A mileage tax on nonpetrol road vehicles has been in force since 1934.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport said owners of gas-powered vehicles were required to forward a return to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles every three months, so that their mileage tax could be assessed. The Transport Act stipulates that any person con-

verting his vehicle to gas must advise the registrar within 14 days. Asked about the justification of the tax, the general manager of the Wellington Automobile Association (Mr L. H. S. Brown) said: “This is something we must discuss.”

A section manager of New Zealand Industrial Gases, Mr R. Staniforth, said only a few gas-powered cars were on the road. A shortage of conversion units and cylinders from overseas, and limited availability of Kapuni gas, were problems in the way of any movement toward gas power. Gas gave off considerably less exhaust emission than petrol, was more efficient, and doubled the engine life of a car. he said. A gallon of petrol would take a car about the same distance as $1.50 worth of gas.