HIGHWAYS FUND ANNEXATION

Evening Star, Issue 21054, 17 March 1932, Page 15

HIGHWAYS FUND ANNEXATION

MR MAGHIN JUSTIFIES HIS APPROVAL [Special to the ‘ Stak.’] CHRISTCHURCH, March 16. It was absurd for motorists, in a time of national emergency, ,to demand that the taxation unposed on them should he reserved for special purposes, Mr w • Machin, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, declared to-day. He was replying to criticism expressed by the Canterbury Automobile Association of his remarks in appreciation of the recommendation of the Economy Commission that all revenue at present credited, to the Highways Fund should henceforth be paid into the Consolidated Fund. “ Behind all the association’s utter 1 ances for several years there has been noticeable a latent fear that the national Exchequer would one day require some of this taxation. That day has obviously arrived, and I am unrepentant at having expressed approval of the sound reasons given by the commission for its recommendation,” Air Machin said. “My approval was given to the New Zealand Commission’s proposal in the first person, singular—as a motorist. The Associated Chambers of Commerce, however, are definitely of opinion that all public expenditure should be more rigidly controlled by Parliament in strict ratio to our diminished resources, and I hope that when it considers the commission’s report in detail it will approve this item. Some officials of the. Automobile Association seem to be unaware, of the present crisis. They remind one of a Queen of Prance, who advised people who had no bread to eat cake.”