ROAD COSTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 August 1927, Page 5

ROAD COSTS

MOTORISTS PAY HALF.

SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTS. IS AN JNCRIEtASE COMI NG ? BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR. WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) gave a fairly plain hint to the House during the financial debate to-day that heavier contributions will have to be paid by road users to rep*, lieve what he regards as an overpower) ing burden of local rates, which handicapped the producers. Several speakers during the debate, he said, had declared that motor cars were responsible for a good deal of our economic trouble. In another case it was suggested that the fanners had too many motor cars. It was not possible for any Government to control the activities of individuals in the way of saving what they should or should not buy. Mr. Wilford : “I hope you won’t try.” _ Mr. Coates : “I think there is just a little bit too much of that already, but I say definitely that it is a matter for the individual himself.” It was quite possible, he continued, to quote hundreds of cases where people had accepted a responsibility on time payment which they found impossible to pay off. but that did not get away from the fact—and lie was referring to the farming community—that, while the Government was not going to say what they should buy. they were not going to assist them to buy luxuries. THE LOCAL RATE BURDEN. One of the factors affecting the farming community was that local rating was a far heavier burden on them than any Government taxation in existence. He would not go into' all the details, but he would venture onei or two points which would lie Ip to reveal the position. .One. was the charge; for the maintenance of roads. The Highways Act iiad specified certain ro-ads a.s main mighways and while this schedule did not give general satisfaction, it was a well-thought-out scheme to endeavour to. get better roads and to pass the natural cost of those roads cn to the people who used them. Whi ;l e this scheme had' not been able to realise all they thought was necessary, they could not get away from the point that the amount of taexation per car, including tyre tax and flat tax, was £3 per annum, but the actual cost of the road maintenance per car was £6 per annum, and, asked the Prime Minister, who is paying that extra £3? Mr Lysnair: “The ratepayers.” Mr Coates.—“ Exactly. To a great extent the ratepayers in the country districts are finding the £3, which should .really be found by those who use the- roads. (Hear, hear). I quote this, point, which occurred in my search to discover the basis of the difficulties as they reveal themselves. It clearly shows that those, using the. roads are either asking for something not economical, or if it is economical, then obviously those who want better roads ought to contribute a greater proportion of the cost of higher type of road.” Mr Wilford: “What about, the man whose property is improved by good roads ?"*

The Prime Minister replied Iliat in any case his local value went‘up, and lie automatically paidl more rates Later on the House'would have an o)> port unity of listening to the Government’s proposals in rejgard to '.his aery difficult, problem which fared the country, and particularly the country settlers, indeed, the motorist- himself. “While 1 do not- say that all. the balance comes off the man on the land, the case does indicate that rural disdistricts are being asked for a type of road which they do not require for themselves.”

Air Ransom: “Are you prepared to extend the national highways system to the backhiocksp” Air Coates: “I will not pursue the matter further, but will leave that thought as it. is, and later on I, or one of my colleagues will have an 'opportunity of placing before the House a scheme which I hope will give a measure of .satisfaction. If we go on atthe rate we are going to-day, the primary producer will be in a ailficult position. It amounts to a rent mmy own district of £1 to 30s per acre. Air Rhodes: “Tt will put. him cut of action.”

Mr Coates.: “What we are trying to do is to assist the primary p» cancer, the man on whom the country depends for its prosperity, and if he is unable to keep his head above water, then the effect is seen in decreased pro<;u<tion. Air Glenn: “The farmer is really entitled to a car, though three of your Ministers sav he is not.” Air Coates: “I have not heard that statement.” He added that- he had met a. gentleman, who put up his car after the war and had taken only one trip to Wanganui-, which cost £lO, and the car was still locked up. Mr Samuel: “I would not like to buy that car now.”