Licensing of Farmers’ Lorries

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 15

Licensing of Farmers’ Lorries

Sir,—l wonder if tbc Government is going to treat farmers reasonably iti regard to the licence fees on motor-lorries? I believe that the Farmers’ Union has been trying for years to have farmers’ lorries exempted from heavy traffic fees. It is the farmers who have paid to have our country roads formed and metalled, and as their heavy vehicles are not in use two months in the year, they should not have to pay the same fees as carriers who use the roads six days a week often and many nights as well. There are milk lorries bringing up to two tons of milk to their factories; they should not have to pay heavy trallic licences. These farmers have had to pay for metalling the roads and are entitled to use them. I believe it costs 30/- to license a trailer run behind n car. What harm do these trailers do to the roads? None at all, as far as I can see. It is the small farmers and share-milkers who use trailers most—why should they be penal ised? A trailer behind a lorry is quite a different matter and should pay a fee —I am, etc., FARMER. South Wairarapa, June 11.