RURAL DERATING

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 13

RURAL DERATING

UPKEEP OF ROADS

PETROL TAX REVENUE

The question of the derating of farm lands so that the cost of road maintenance shall be wholly • borne by the petrol tax is of vital interest to rural communities at present, and naturally it constituted one of the principal items of debate at the annual conference of tho. Now Zealand Counties Association today. A number of remits on the matter were included in the order paper and were considered by a committee of which Mr. W. Morrison (Waitotara) was the chairman. ■ •' At this morning's session tho comiimentlment to be added to tho committee's recommendations: — That the principle of total dornting be not approved of, but an effort be made to secure the 4d tax on petrol ' now paid to the Consolidated Fund when the finances of the country are in a more stable condition. "NOT FAR ENOUGH." Mr. L. Webb (AVhangarei) considered that the committee had not gone far enough, and proposed the following amendment: — That the- Government release sufficient of the petrol*tax to enable the Main Highways Board to pay a rebate of 10 per cent, on rates, such rebate to be increased by 5 per cent, each year up to 25 per cent., which would be met by the £500,000 which is now being transferred from the Highways -Board funds to the Consolidated Fund. The debate is proceeding.