GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN

Evening Star, Issue 19713, 14 November 1927, Page 6

GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN

•• PAY FOR ROADS USED " MOTORISTS TO OPPOSE MINISTER Although the petrol tax has been passed in the House, the motorists of the South Island have not yet finished with their opposition to the Government’s past policy of spending any portion of the motoring taxes on any roads in New Zealand. “We look upon the Minister s refusal to allocate the petrol tax raised in the South Island for spending on roads in the South Island as a most serious matter for tire South Island motorists, and equally so for the south counties,” said Mr A. E. Ansell, president of the South Island Motor Union and the Otago Motor Club today to a ‘ Star ’ man. “ South Island motorists were entitled to assume, when agreeing to the imposition of a petrol tax. that they would have a just and equitable share of the revenue provided, and it comes as a bombshell to them to know that the Minister might, at his discretion, spend any portion of this tax in any part of New Zealand as he desires. Judging from our past experiences, the North Island motorists and counties will be reaping the benefit of the taxes the South Island motorists are paying.” In the Main Highways Act the Prime Minister had admitted, said Mr Ansell, the justice of the principle of motorists paying for the roads they use, but in the petrol tax, which would probably provide triple tho amount of the tyro tax, he has refused to concede that to the South Island.

“ A very strong fight will be put up by the South Island Motor Union over this question, and tho last of it certainly has not been heard with the passing of the Bill in the Lower Housej” declared Mr Ansell.