HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 124, 18 February 1933, Page 10

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

New Apportionment Benefits Hutt County DISPARITY YET ALLEGED Intimation was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Hutt County Council that heavy traffic fees for the year ending May 31, 1933, would be apportioned on the basis of 15.69 percent. on the net amount of fees alter 5 net cent, reduction is allowed to the collecting authority. The chairman, Mr D R. Hoggard, said that for the first half of the heavy traffic year, the council would receive £2339, as against £1722, had the magistrate’s award continued. . Cr. J. Mahar: That is very satisfacContinuing, the chairman said that under the old agreement of some years ago the one that the council had fought against for so long, it would have received £994. It was unfortunate, of course, that the council could not have had the matter reviewed earlier, when the gross collections were higher, as it would then have received a greater benefit. Even though the council had got a substantial increase, it had not yet got as much as it ought, the chairman said. In the half-year under review, the allocations were worked out on the mileage of the various local authorities The apportionment per mile was: Wellington City, £38.93; Petone, £37.72; Lower Hutt, £24.56; Upper Hutt, £14.80: Eastbourne, £24.91; Johnsonville, £12.78; Hutt County, £9.80; and Makara County, £12.12. The council was still getting a lower apportionment per mile than any other of the local authorities. “It is obviously too little in spite of the fact that it is infinitely more than what we were receiving previously,” he said. Cr. W, V. Dyer said he thought the council ought to place on record its appreciation of the work of the chairman in this matter. Things looked very black indeed after the magistrate’s decision had been given, and although at the time it looked as if it were final, the chairman still worked away at it. “I do not think that we are getting all that we are entitled to, and if it had not been for his efforts we would not have been getting what we are to-day.” The chairman said that it had beeu a hard fight, and the council had not yet got full justice—not by a long chalk. He did not think that the council should let the matter drop even now. He accordingly moved that the coniniunciatlon from the Commissioner of Transport he acknowledged, and that the council express its appreciation of the trouble the Transport Department had given in connection -with the matter, and point out the disparity that was still existing in the allocations on the mileage basis. 'The motion was .seconded by Cr. Mackay, and carried. PAYMENT ON ENGINES Fire Board Objection Tlie Wellington Fire Board yesterday objected l to paying heavy traffic license fees on the fire engines as it had been requested to do by the City Council, which body had forwarded a debit of £lB6/6/- to the Fire Board as the fees due. It was pointed out that the fees included £55 for oue machine which only went. 106 miles in a year, which was at the rate of 10/- a mile. The board decided to register its objection to the registration of the fire-fighting vehicles except for the truck which conveys goods, equipment and men. The fee for this vehicle is to be tendered to the City Council without, prejudice.