Lifting of Tyre Control Urged by S.I. Motor Union

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 8

Lifting of Tyre Control Urged by S.I. Motor Union

BLENHEIM, March 21.

The South Island Motor Union at its half-yearly meeting—the first held away from Christchurch in the past decade —decided yesterday to urge the reproval of all control on the tyre industry by licensing. It was 1 resolved to request the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) that if the general stock position precluded imediate action in regard to all tyres, he should lift the controls over those sizes of which reasonable supplies were available or assured.

It was also resolved to make representations to the appropriate authorities protesting against the wide discrepancy between the price of tyres in New Zealand and similar tyres in Australia, seeking an explanation justifying the difference. After a discussion on petrol taxation the meeting decided to endeavour to persuade the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash to remit the 4d war (ax and allocate the 4id emergency tax to highway maintenance and construction.

It was allegd that the Minister had repeatedly evaded efforts by both the North and South Island Motor Unions to secure a definite statement of his intentions. Motorists, it was pointed out, did not mind paying reasonable taxation provided it was spent on the roads, but Mr Nash, so far had failed to explain his reported claim that the petrol axt was not necessary for motoring and road purposes. Dissatisfaction at this state of affairs was expressed. Opposition to the continuation of the registration system for afterhours petrol was expressed by a number of speakers. The conference decided to instruct the executive to resist any attempt by the authorities to renew the register system when the six months’ term of tha present regulations had elapsed. While it was recognised that there were very good reasons for limiting speed, especially at present, the meeting considered that the interests of public safety would bo better served by the replacement of the present specific restrictions with the former prohibition on driving to the common danger. It was felt that fixing a maximum permissable speed encouraged motorists to drive at that speed regardless of circumstances. The meeting was fully representative of all automobile associations in the South Island, plus representatives of the North Island Motor Union.