EXPERIMENT FOR A YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 97, 21 October 1924, Page 11

EXPERIMENT FOR A YEAR

MOTOR VEHICLES BILL

THE SCHEDULE CRITICISED.

When the Motor Vehicles Bill was ■under consideration last week, a good deal of criticism was levelled, against the schedule, on -the ground that 'no differentiation was made between private and public motor-cars. The Minister oi Internal Affairs (the Hon. R. F. Bollard) stated in the House last night that he had consulted with the opicers of his Department, and that he was unable to agree to alter the schedule. The more the question was investigated thte more complicated it became; 'on account of the varying weight and horse-power of motor vehicles. He had come to the conclusion, that the schedule^ was best as it stood. " I think it is an abomination, and that it is unjust/ declared the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford). He thought the Government should take heed of the suggestidh made by many' members for a tire or petrol tax; He said he certainly would not vote lot tho schedule as it stood; ho would let the Government take the responsibility for what he considered a very bad schedule. - ' ; Mr. A. Bell (Bay of Islands) suggested that if the charges proposed were reduced by one-half, and handed over to the local bodies, and a petrol tax ira--1 posed, it would be a much better system. It was significant that America had revevted to tho petrol tax. He felt sure the motorists would be prepared to pay a fairly' heavy tax so' long as they got good roads. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) said that_ the petrol tax, the flat tax, and the tire tax were all wrong systems. '(Laughter.) The maintenance of the main roads was a public liability, and should be provided for out o£ the public revenue. AN EXPERIMENT, v The .Prime.Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massej) said they wished to find a system under which the man who used the road would pay. Everyone used the roads '.to a certain extent, but evoryone was not so fortunate as to own a high-power motor-car. The tire tax was the nearest to perfection, but it would not yield sufficient money. The alternative, then, was tho tire tax or the petrol tax. The Government was committed to do something, and he agreed with the suggestion that <the Bill was really an experiment. " Let us agree to this schedule," said Mr. Massey, " and if it does not work well, when Parliament meets . again let us knock it out and endeavour to provide something better to take its place." . Mr. Savage said he agreed that the present schedule should be given a, trial. It did not seem to him a fair thing, however, for the Government to reduce the tax on tea and impose it upon the rides the people took in motorcars. . i .

Mr.. J. Edie (Clutha) said he did not see why there should be'a petrol tax as well as a tax on tires. The Government waß aiming too high, and would become short of wind beforo it attained its .object. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) siiid he was quite prepared to accept the understanding that the Bill should oporato as an experiment for a year. '■ "The schedule is crude and ill-consid-ered," remarked Mr. J. MC. Dickson (Chalmers), who Vjought it a pity tho Government would not consent to alter it. The Bill was put through its final stages and passed.