MOTOR FEES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 August 1924, Page 9

MOTOR FEES.

FLAT RATE DEFENDED. (By Telegraph.—SDceial to Star). WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. "Why should the owner of a £IOO motor nay the same tax as a £IOOO car ownerf asked a- Southern critic of the Motor Vehicles Bill. Mr Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs, considered this question well worth answering. The critic,'he said, pointed out that a man with a, lowpowered car was limited in his radius of distance and very often his motoring was confined to a week-end spin, whereas the owner of a big car, whose car was on the road every day, took most out of the reads and should pay most in license fees in the way of upkeep. “The writer of the comment,” said Mr Bollard, “has not taken into consideration the fact of there being a tyre tax through the Customs, the effect of which, of course, is that the more a person uses a motor the more tyres, he will require, and consequently he will have to pay more in tyre tax. The original draft of the Bill did, as a matter of fact, provide for annual licenses in accordance with horsepower, but it was .subsequently considered that it would be more desirable, taking everything into consideration, to have a flat 'rate. It seems to me that the weight of a vehicle does not necessarily mean that it is going to cause more damage to : the roads then lighter vehicles, as the speed of motors is one of the primary factors in causing damage to roads.” Mr Bollard emphasised the fact that the scale of fees under the Bill was fixed in consultation with the motor unions and the Main Highways Board, and was supported bv the Good Roads Association or New Zealand with headquarters at Auckland.’ It was agred that a. flat rate of £2 per annum lie made with the right of the local authorities to impose license fees 011 heavy traffic and vehicles plving for hire.