THOSE WHO BENEFIT SHOULD PAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 61, 9 September 1924, Page 6

THOSE WHO BENEFIT SHOULD PAY

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—^l do not know whether any opposition is being organised against the Motor Vehicles Bill,'but 2 /feel compelled to "■ protest against' the proposed unfair charges* placed upon motor-lorries^ as outlined in your paper a few days ago; I think, Sir, we are losing sight of- true principles of taxation. The old principle was that the upkeep of roads was a; charge upon the : lands served by them.' Because motor vehicles have done an exceptional amount of damage to our old-fashioned roads, it must not be overlooked that they have added an exceptional amount of value to the" lands served by those roads. Perhaps I am low in -my estimate,'that motor' vehicles of all descriptions' have' added at least £30,000,000 to the value of land in this Dominion. It is also, certain that the amount spent upon the bitumen surfacing .: of -the Hutt road, roughly £45,000, has already placed double that amount upon the value of lands in the Hutt Valley. A true canon -of taxation, is that those who benefit should pay. Carriers do "not benefit by ' good roads, although, of course, they strongly desire them. The driving force of competition is ever present ,to reduce charges over good roads; and this' is already felt ,in the Hutt Valley. The ultimate benefit'of good roads "is reaped by the landowner. Under the proposed Motor Vehicles Bill he is deprived of his..right to pay for it. -Further than this, many small carriers will be eliminated by inability to pay the^ taxes, fees, and licenses demanded. Consequently, by placing the burden on.the wrong shoulders good roads, instead of cheapening transportation, will . maintain present prices or" increase them, by lessening the competition.—l am, etc., ■-'■' R. A. GOSSE.

Bth September.