BACKBLOCKS ROADS

Evening Star, Issue 20558, 9 August 1930, Page 3

BACKBLOCKS ROADS

FACTOR IK PETROL TAX PREMIER'S VIGOROUS SPEECH [FbOM OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. - ] WELLINGTON, August 8. A vigorous defence of the increase in the petrol tax was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) in the course of his reply to the Budget debate in the House. Mr Forbes made it clear that if Parliament refused to sanction the increase there would be no further money available for roads, and the backblock districts particularly would bo the sufferers. The Prime Minister said the Government had decided that the road' users should pay. They were being asked to relieve the general taxpayer, and that was a fair request. If the House decided against that policy that would be the end of it; there would be no money available for roads. If the House voted against the increase, it would b© for members to make their peace with local bodies and the backblock settlers. The backblock settlers were entitled to relief. “ It is nonsense to say the Government has no sympathy for the farmer,” added the Prime Minister. “ 1 am a farmer myself, and as far as the farmers are concerned, they will get a fair deal from me.” (“Hear, hear.”) Out of the additional petrol tax it was proposed to apply £140,000 for backblock roads, and those who had raised a hue and cry against the increase had surely forgotten the backcountry settler. There had been instances of members representing constituencies containing back country going into the lobby to vote against the Government. The Prime Minister read a long list of electorates which, he said, had been benefited by moneys spent on roads to give access to outlying districts. “Is this a bid for votes?” queried Mr Samuel (Thames). The Prime Minister: It has been said that there has not been a fair distribution of public moneys on these roads, and this analysis has been taken out to show how the various electorates have received the amounts for expenditure. It is rather interesting to note that the electorates represented by the United Party get £7.280, Reform £15.118, and Labour electorates £20,424. The electorates represented by the Independent and Country Party received £11,262. “And yet,” ho said (referring to the Independents) “ they all marched solemnly into the lobby to vote against the Government for trying to assist tho backblock districts.”