PETROL TAXATION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 269, 10 August 1938, Page 6

PETROL TAXATION

Move For Expenditure Wholly On Roads

SUPPORT FROM KAIRANGA Dominion Special Service. . Palmerston North, August 9. Unanimous support was given by the Kairanga County Council to-day to _ a Dominion-wide effort being made to induce the Government to spend all petrol tax revenue on highways instead of, as at present, using a considerable sum for general purposes. The subject was discussed when a letter was read frtjm the Canterbury Progress League giving details of expenditure of taxation paid by motorists at a conference of Christchurch local bodies and automobile authorities’. The letter stated that the following resolution, support for which was sought, had been carried: "That in view of the rapid increase in motor traffic and increased use of the highways and. the consequent pressing need for maintenance and improvement of the highways, this conference urges that the whole of the net proceeds of motor spirit taxation, including the 4Jd. a gallon now devoted to general purposes of government, be transferred to the Main Highways Account and expended for highway purposes.” The chairman, Cr. I). O. Collis, said the request was reasonable and the resolution should be supported. Cr. W. G. Shannon: This Government was not the first to raid funds. The chairman: But they are finishing it off pretty well. Cr. J. Batchelor: We can support the resolution, but it will not make much difference. 'lf the Government don’t get money from petrol tax they will get it from somewhere else. Cr. M. W. Voss: It won’t make much difference to the taxpayer, that is certain.