MORE TAXATION?

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1930, Page 10

MORE TAXATION?

MOTORISTS -AWAKE WILL OPPOSE IT That motorists can visualise the. approach of an attempt to further tax them for various purposes was evident at the general meeting of the members of the 'Welliugton Automobile Club last night, and it was equally evident that any attempt at additional taxation will be strenuously opposed wherever motorists consider it inequitable. In regard to the tax proposed to be paid by motorists of Wellington, Petonc, Hutt, Makara, and Eastbourne, to provide for the Petone ramp, Mr. Batt referred to a meeting of local bodies, when the financing of the scheme was considered in committee. After a stormy meeting, those who advocated the motorists paying were defeated. The motorists had been refused representa- , tiou when matters concerning motorists were discussed. It had been proposed that the following charges should be made: Pleasure car, 3s 6d per annum for 20 years; commercial car, Is a year for 20 years; motor-cycles, Is a year for 20 years; buses, £1 a year far 20 years. "NO SAY—NO PAY." Discussing the lack of representation of motorists at the meeting of the local ', bodies which decided on the payments . for the ramp, Mr. Batt said it appeared a case of "no say—no pay." (Applause.) It would have been inequitable to tax motorists for the ramp. It ' was obviously wrong, part of a movement going on to further tax the motorist, a move that should be countered. If necessary other and larger meetings , would be held to prevent the erection of tho ramj) at the expense of motor-; ists. ! The chairman moved: "That this special meeting of the members of the Wellington Automobile Club protests against the scheme put forward by interested local bodies, i.e., Wellington, Petone, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt. Makara, Eastbourne, and Hutt County Council, that resident motorists in these districts be called upon to provide for the cost of same, and that it will vigor- . ously oppose legislation giving the . aforesaid bodies power to act." A speaker at the back of the hall ■ asked if it was not possible for a mem- , ber of the executive to interview the Minister of Internal Affairs about the matter of the local bodies' decision. Local bodies were merely empowered . to make bylaws, not laws. The Minister could do a great deal to further the interests of the club.

The chairman replied that the executive did a good deal of work on legislation, in fact much of its activities were in connection with that subject. They had 25,000 motorists, only 12,000 of whom were registered, and it was only by watching the interests of motorists that they hoped to secure the 12,000 odd registrations. Taxation would have to be the subject of a legislative measure, and he did not think that the little "ramp party" would find it merely a matter of collecting the money. The Minister of Internal Affairs would have a lot to say about it. The motion was carried.