Car fee rise ‘an outrage’

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 2

Car fee rise ‘an outrage’

PA Wellington A $7.35 increase in the cost of car relicensing was an outrage, said Labour’s transport spokesman, Mr Richard Prebble, yesterday. Mr Prebble said that the amount was $2 more than the general wage order increase the ordinary person had received in his wage packet each week after tax.

“The National Government is totally out of touch with the economic position of the ordinary family,” he said.

“A car is not a luxury to most people, it is a family necessity, and for Government to hold down wages by law and at the same time increase Government taxes

is just deliberately provocative.” Labour would fight the increase in Parliament, he said. The Combined State Unions yesterday branded the increase as unfair. It highlighted “once again the unfairness of the continuing freeze on wages,” said Mr Ron Burgess, chairman of the C.S.U. The increase for the average worker was 12 per cent, compared with a 2.9 per cent rise in wages, he said. Butter had gone up 13 per cent, an average haircut in Wellington was up 11 per cent, and food prices generally had risen. “It is open slather for everyone today with the notable exception of wage and salary earners,” said Mr Burgess. The Automobile Association also criticised the increase. “The association is definitely against the increase. We believe the levy should remain as before,” said an A.A. spokesman. “If there was a need to increase it, we don’t see why it should be by 50 per cent,” he said. The A.A. spokesman said the Accident Compensation Corporation had $lOO million in reserves at the end of 1983.