PETROL TAX

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10490, 15 October 1926, Page 6

PETROL TAX

MOTORISTS’ OBJ MOTIONS. HIGHWAYS BOARD HAS ADE- , (H ATE MONEY. (Special to the Times.) A l- UK LAND,. Oct . 14. The attitu'u? ol Automobile Association regarding a suggestion to impose a petrol indicated in a report presented by the secretary (Air G. TV. Hutchison) to a meeting of - the Council of the Association last evening. Mr HutehiSSii a aid that country agencies had answered the questionnaire expressing anproval oi the present tyre tax, and declaring that a'petrol tax would present many difficulties, tie said the demand for a petrol tax arose through the impatience of certain local bodies at the progress in road construction. It had been wrongly assumed that there was a lack of road funds. The Main Highways Board had adequate money under the present svstem of taxation, and at March 31, 1920, the accumulated revenue \vas £(J4.3,—So. In addition there Was £251,i110 in the Board’s construction fund, and £200,000 unused in the Public Works fund. Altogether, the Board had nearly £!,- OOO,CCO 1 at its disposal. There Had been some delay in the initiation of national road works, as the Highways Board had devoted some time xo research in order that the host methods might be employed. The rejection to a' petrol tax was that there would be difficulties in making provision for netrol-drivcu launches and milking machines. A tyre tax reflected road usage as completely as petrol. Mr M. 11. Wynvard, the motorists representative on the Highway's Board, said the report represented the position-