HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 256, 25 July 1930, Page 9

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Master Carriers’ Appeal “DEAD TAXATION” Master carriers from all parts of New Zealand were represented on a deputation which waited upon the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, yesterday morning, and asked him for a definite reply as to the Government’s intentions in regard to heavy traffic fees. The Minister was unable to commit the Government, but assured the that it would receive an early reply to its representations. , , ... Stating the case for the deputation, Mr. B. L. Hammond, of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, said that. the heavy traffic fees were most unfair, as they amounted to dead taxation. It ' did not matter whether'the vehicles were being used or not, the taxation still bad to be paid. No satisfaction had ever been obtained from the Reform Party, and the carriers of necessity turned to the United Party. It was definitely stated in the United Party’s manifesto that relief would be granted to the motoring industry, and they now looked to the Government to give effect to that undertaking. The Minister said that the deputation was fullv entitled to a definite reply as to the Government’s intentions, but he was not in a position to give that reply. However, he would take the earliest possible opportunity of discussing the matter with Mr. Taverner, and then the representations would be placed before Cabinet for consideration. He could say quite definitely that it was not the policy ot the Government to tax motors off the roads. Since he had assumed the portfolio of Railways it might be thought that he had changed his mind in regard to the motorists, but that was not the case at all. His policy was not one of road versus rail, but rather of road and rail together. The question of the heavy traffic fees had already been discussed in Cabinet, but so far a final decision had not been reached. In order that reductions could be made, however, the Government had this year altered the Order-in-Council .which governed the payment ot the fees. They would . understand that that was in no way an implied promise.