IMPROVING BY-ROADS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1926, Page 8

IMPROVING BY-ROADS

TAXATION OF MOTORISTS.

"We have a tremendous work in front of us, so far as the by-roads are concerned," remarked Councillor E, Windley, chairman, at the monthly meeting of the Makara County Council to-day, when a request for improvement to the Ohariu Valley-Johnsonville road was presented. "We cannot carry out these necessary improvements to any extent out of revenue. It is quite right to go as far as we possibly can, but we must remember that it is not only the local traffic which needs the improvements for its safety. The by-roads are becoming much like the main roads, and they are used more by outside traffic than our own.

"The time is not far distant when there will be an increase in.motor taxation. I have contended that the motorist does not pay a tax at the present time, but a national registration fee. Compared with other countries, he is not taxed at all. Even now, he is getting a return out of all proportion to what he is paying. ((Hear, hear.) The indications are that the Main Highways Board favours a tax on petrol, and I think myself that that is the more equitable method of taxation. When that tax is imposed wo shall require an extension of the board's contribution to the by-roads. It is only by that means that we can bring about these necessary improvements. I refer to this because it is an important matter. We do our best with the revenue available, but it is not exactly fair to tax the property owners for improvements to byroads which are used by motorists beyond our bounds."

The matter was left to the committee for consideration.