New licensing fees attacked

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 4

New licensing fees attacked

PA Wellington The Opposition launched a strong attack in Parliament on a bill validating increased vehicle-licensing fees, announced by the Government earlier this month. The Transport Amendment Bill raises the cost of registering and relicensing a family car this year from about $26 to $39. Fees for changes of ownership will also be increased. The Opposition member of Parliament for Timaru (Sir Basil Arthur) said that the measure was a “further harsh and unjustified attack” on motor vehicle owners. Mr R. L. Bailey (Lab., ■ Heretaunga) asked ' whether it was true that the measure! had been drawn up by Trea-! sury officials, and whether it | was true that the Post Office

ii charge for collecting the fee 'was only 35c. I Mr A. J. Faulkner (Lab., i Roskill) said that the increase 11 contradicted the Govern:|ment’s stated policy of holdi ing costs, and further ; | affected the purchasing i power of wage earners. I Mr M. Rata (Lab., North|em Maori) said that the ; Government had used the ; feeblest of excuses to intro(duce a new method of taxing to put an extra S24M in its i coffers. i The Deputy Prime MinisI ter (Mr Taiboys) said that of (the extra S24M, the National “ Roads Board would receive 1 the came percentage of funds I as it had every other year. , After a two and a half hour •debate, the bill was introeduced in a division bv 40 to 26 ' Mr Taiboys gave notice i {that he would take urgency; today to pass the bill.