EXEMPTION FROM MOTOR TAX

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 8

EXEMPTION FROM MOTOR TAX

LOSS OF £9OOO REVENUE. Figures which showed an annual loss of nearly £9OOO to the Highways Board through the present system of exemption from motor taxation in New Zealand, were before the South Island Motor Union at its annual meeting last week. A motion was carried asking that exemption be completely eliminated.

Mr. J. S. Hawkes (Canterbury) gave the number of vehicles last year exempt from tax as 3329, which would have brought a revenue of about £8995. This would occur annually, and there would be a sum of £3329 which would occur only once, making a total of £11,321. The exemptions were serious, because the cars exempted were on the roads most of the week, while the private motorist, who used the roads less, had to pay for these. All Government Departments, Harbour Boards, City and County Councils, and like bodies, were all exempt. 'These exemptions should not apply. The public bodies concerned _ should pay their share into the Highways Fund.

Mr. J. J. Purdie (Otago) said that these exempted motorists were engaging in competition with private owners, particularly the master carriers, who were paying the ordinary tax.

Mr. W. 11. Orbell (South Canterbury) considered that there should be no exemptions. The following motion was passed: —“That this union forward to the Minister for Public Works and to the Highways Board an emphatic protest against the present law, which enables such a large number of motor-vehicles to use the roads free of registration and license fees, and ask for the abolition of all exemptions from the payment of license fee.”