TRANSPORT BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 10

TRANSPORT BOARD

MOTORISTS' PROPOSAL

A DIFFERENT CONSTITUTION

The constitution of the new Transport Board was discussed at a conference of the North and South Island Motor Unions, held at the Wellington Automobile Club to-day, Mr. A. J. Toogood (president) in the chair. The other delegates present were Messrs. O. •S. Hawke (secretary, Canterbury Automobile Association), A. E. Ansell, M.P. (president, South Island Motor Union), P. R. Hannah (secretary South Island Motor Union), J. L. Passmore (Otago Motor Club), F. W. Freeman (president Canterbury Automobile Association), H. C. Jones (Auckland Automobile Club), and J. H. Edmondson and F. Manton (Wellington).

Mr. Ansell said that it seemed to him that the' Transport Board, as constituted, would be four to one in favour of the abolition of the heavy traffic fees, and that a recommendation in favour of their abolition would be made by the board to the. Minister of Transport (the Hon. W. ' A. Veitch), very possibly resulting in legislation to that end and increased taxation on motorcar owners. The proposed constitution of the board, according to the Press, was: A Government representative (ehairnian) and one representative each of the North and South Island Motor Unions, New Zealand Master Carriers' Association, Omnibus Proprietors' Union, service ■ car ! proprietors, the wholesale and retail motor'trade, the counties' associations, the- municipal associations, and Labour organisations. The chairman,' replying to a question, said that the object of the Minister in including a Labour representative had been stated to be to prevent ser-vice-car drivers being employed sixteen hours a day to the danger of the general public. ' ' My. Freeman said that the drivers were subject to Arbitration Court awards, and they would prevent that sort of thing. On the motion of Mr. Edmondson, it was decided to ask that the Labour representative be deleted. ; It was unanimously resolved to suggest that the constitution of the board be amended to the following:—A chairman, to bo appointed by the Government; and one representative each for the North Island Motor Union, the South Island Motor Union; the Counties' Association, the Municipal Association, one for the New Zealand master carriers, the omnibus proprietors, and the service-car proprietors (combined), and one for the wholesale and retail motor trade. On the motion of Mr. Janes, it was resolved: "That it be a recommendation to the Minister that each of the different bodies who are to constitute the Transport Advisory Board be entitled to nominate a transport commissioner." .'■'■■'. v TAXATION TOO HEAVY. The delegates'generally protested that the taxation levied upon motor-car and motor-vehicle owners was too heavy, as evidenced by the big surplus in the funds of the Main Highways Board. Tho secretary to the North and South Islands Motor Union,(Mr. H. J. Stott) said that he, had received the following letter on that point from, the secretary to the Main Highways Board:—"At the request of Mr. Wynyard. I have, to advise that at the'end of February the cash in the hands of the Main Highways Board in both funds amounted to £1,089,910, to which should be added the sum of £80,704, representing tire ta^c, motor vehicle fees, and motor spirits taxation, making a total of £1,170,614. The authorisations at that date in both funds amounted to £1,315,561, rcpresentirig an excess over cash available of £144,947." Mr. Freeman said that the authorisations included over £200,000 for tho South Island, which would not be spent for'two years, whereas at the end of the financial year on 31st March the board would collect another £2,000,000. 1 Mr. Edmondson: "They are collecting the money far too far ahead." It was resolved to' strongly represent to the Minister .of ■ Transport the motorists' demand for a reduction in the very heavy taxation levied upon them.