"ANTI-MOTOR CAMPAIGN"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1934, Page 9

"ANTI-MOTOR CAMPAIGN"

TRANSPORT CONTROL

WAIRARAPA DISCUSSION

(By Telegraph)

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

MASTEBTON, This Day.

Transport proposals were fully discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Wairarapa provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, following a report made by Messrs. L. T. Daniell and Duncan McGregor on a reccut conference with representatives of the Wairarapa Carriers' Association.

Mr. Daniell said that-the present control of transport might bo called tho anti-motor campaign. In the year ended last March, motor taxation amounted to £2,600,000, Of which the Highways Board got only £640,000, leaving a.bbut £ 2,000,000 of motor taxation to the Consolidated Fund. The cry of the farmer was for cheaper transport, but all they were getting was heavier taxation, together with all sorts of euact: ments and restrictions on transport. The master carriers, whom farmers should regard as fellow-producers, were not. getting a fair deal. Although tho authority exercised its right to restrict or delete motor services, it had no power to delete, revise, or improve the time-tables given to the Wairarapa district by the Railway Department. Control should be exercised conditions fait to all parties. In* view of the improvement of the Bimutaka road they might be prepared seriously to discuss whether they might not close the railway from the Wairarapa,' say, to Upper Hutt. The figures were rather astounding. They had to got efficiency in the railway service, just as they had to get efficiency in anything else. Parts of the Bimutaka railway plant, if not obsolete or obsolescent were nearly so. All transport services should be dealt with on equal terms by the Transport Authority.. If this wero dono they might get rid of the "sprawling anachronism" that now went over tho incline. THREEFOLD PRINCIPLE. Ho moved: "That this executive endorse the threefold principle: (1) Bepresentation' of carriers and automobile associations on county councils.on the basis of no taxation without representation; (2) the review of heavy traffic licence fees in view of the severe taxation of carriers in other directions (i.e., Customs duties; tire tax, motor spirits tax, fees under the Motor Vehicles Act, heavy traffic fees and drivers' licences); (3) that tho Transport Authority be empowered to review local railway services at the same time as it reviews local.goods and passenger road services.-' ■_ After some discussion tho proposals were referred to a committee, which is to report before the next meeting of the executive. It was considered inadvisable to pass a resolution on matters so important without going into the subject very fully. • '