GOOD ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 13

GOOD ROADS

THE QUESTION OF TAXES

DRAWBACK TAX SUGGESTED.

A deputation from the Counties' Conference waited on the Prime Minister yesterday, when the main decisions arrived at by the recent gathering were presented by Mr. A. E. Jull. .Replying", Mr. Massey said he was very glad feK learn from the deputation that 1 the conference had been,a success, and he congratulated delegates on the good work done Regarding the legislation dealing with roads, he said the matter ot nnance was a considerable item However, one thing that had to be done in this country was to provide for motor lii.. 14 was all very well to talk about the effect of this on the railways, but New Zealand must have up-to-date means of transport and communication. X e jn nofc have good roads we r^J* 1 behiD<? °ther «>™tries. He thought the arterial roads should be attended to in the first place. He was glad to hear that the conference.had det' fii^v 013™ f giviiig new s°heme a fair trial. There was the question of a loan, and he wanted to say that as Finance Minister he had various difficulties to meet. Ha was exercising great care in the matter of expenditure for various reasons, among them the approaching end of the moratorium, the arrangements respecting which were proceeding satisfactorily. He did not tnink toh Wv* 0 be much table *vhen the end of the period was reached: irom inquiries he had made of men in a position to speak with authority, he did not anticipate.,.any trouble. Another thing for which.money would have to be found was the new advances scheme. Mr.--Jull: "These proposals will amount to only £300,000 a'year." I' Mr. Massey said the question was one of the Highways Board getting the money. If enough could be got out of a tire tax, well and good. There would be trouble if an attempt was made to get money out of motor-cars. If the money could be. got out of mineral oils by way of drawback, as had been suggested, that might b9 satisfactory, but there would be certain people respecting whom there would be difficulties.

A deputatioriist: "Give them a draw, back."

Mr. Massey said that while he was away in England, where, he understood, there was something of the sort in operation, he would take an opportunity of looking into- matters concerning, the collection of such a tax: