PETROL TAX
DEPOSITION EAYOTJKED
TRANSPORT EVOLUTION
Some very' outspoken criticism was offered to a representative of "The Post" in connection with the muchdiscussed petrol tax by a city business man and confirmed motorist.
"I am totally opposso to this political barrage' worked up against the Prime Minister in connection with tho Government's proposal to leiTy a further tax on petrol to help the country out oi its embarrassing financial position," he said. "There is no political significance so far as I am concerned, but surely it is time the cold facts were faced. Parliament °nd those best able to say do not doubt the need for extra revenue. Each vested section, however, appears to be in deadly earnest, not in pulling but in rocking the State boat. "Petrol as a source for additional tax ,i t beats beer by a head for first place, but both are worthy of the tax-gather-ers' attention. Tlio big noise about petrol is hollow. The objectors to the petrol tax are not so numerous as might, be presumed, but they have, the good fortune to bo ..entrenched- behind good loud speakers, by virtue of.gna.ny interested but otherwise hannliSs organisations.
"Who is there dan say with truth that petrol as a power factor is too dear at tho new price? Is there anything available to our economic structure so ridiculously cheap intrinsically as a gallon of benzine at 2s 2d? True, it is no concern of ours what the first cost of this wonderful liquid is in America, but would there be need, for much crying if th:yt cost wont up by 6d per gallon? Would we not willingly and gladly accept the multum in parvo at a further shilling a {ralloriJ
"The best principle to follow in taxation is to gather it from sources where its incidence is based on voluntary choice. Tobacco, beer and spirits, and amusements were for that reason well loaded up. Pleasure-motoring is in the same category. Make your allowance^ by relief in heavy traffic licences to carriers, but get right on to the user of the roads. It is all very well to preach about the use of motors for our businesses. We have all sung that song, but let us own up to the fact that a large percentage of the petrol is bought and used in circumstances conforming with the best principles of taxation, namely, optional. "How often do we'hear of proud motorists who, after a return of a round tour of the North Island, declare that they have travelled 1200 miles at a cost of £it or £5 for petrol? The extra threepenny tax on this would be 10s.
"Two shillings worth of benzine will carry five tons, from the City to Petone and back again. Compare it all with our means and cost of transport only a few years ago. In the 'eighties tho wool from tho middle of the Island was delivered to Napier in pockets by packhorses, taking a week to do a journey, and fourteen horses carrying a ton. Now a benzine truck takes five tons in a short day for 25s worth of this precious fluid.
"Incidentally, one might ask if this extra threepence per gallon hurts so much, why is it that a local service station now still selling at the old price is not being rushed.
"No; benzine and electricity have revolutionised transport. For the value given their respective costs are ridiculously infinitesimal. Of course wo all would liko our petrol and other commodities as cheaply as possible, but to carp about tho high cost of potrol as a commodity is just absurd, and that is all there is to it."
PETROL TAX
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 38, 13 August 1930, Page 13
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