MOTORISTS FACING CRISIS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 August 1930, Page 8

MOTORISTS FACING CRISIS

L’OA D 1 X'G FINANCES

UNION TAKES UR CHALLENGE

'WANGANUI. Aug. 22

That action has been taken by the Government that would be ter modi dishonourable if car lied out 'by private firms was the contention of 'Mr A. E. Ans ell, MJP., at to-day’s l meeting of the North Island Motor Union 'Conference.

Mr Ansell, president of the 'South Island! Motor Union, addressed the conference this afternoon.

“The propaganda issued by the Motor Union under.iMr W. C. Walkley, of Tlawera, has done great work,” said Air Ansell, “and it was necessary, as the position is serious—the most serious crisis that has - ever been faced by motorists, local bodies, and transport in New Zealand. Motor transport is

in important thing in our social life, •mil anything that tends to increase the cost of motor transport is serious, especially for farmers, who are great users of such transport, ft is against public interest that. Undue rates be levied' against it. ‘‘l will outline the position we are in under the new Transport Act. Undid’ the legislation passed' this' week the two annual grants of £35,000 and £200,000 have been cancelled. In future the £200,000 will have to be raised by the ‘Highways Board itself, and it will have to pay interest and sinking fund. The iGovcrnmemt decided that pasit grants 1 would he charged' with interest. The £1,220,000 is not iram a free grant, and local bodies and l motorists will have to lin'd: the interest on it. ,For this year, it will cost the Highways Hoard' £61,000 in interest on past grants. 'By the fifth year the total will bo £129,000. Such an .action Would be termed, dishonourable in the business world, but State departments have allowed necessity to 'overrule them. '“The problenn of ibackblock roads and unemployment is being put on to motorists,” ho continued. ‘'‘'Money is being taken from our taxation and put on to bae'kbloek roads. As these roads are a necessity in public interest the general public should pay. 'Tin? average farmer is going to pay &5 or £6 extra and will riot get od or Od reduction! in taxation. ‘‘All other ‘Governments heavily subsidise taxaticin for roads, but we fin'd our 'Government to-dav robbing 1 the roads. Th addition to other taxation, motorists of New Zealand last j year paid a million and a-half through Customs to the revenue of the coun-1 try. The declaration by a' Minister of the Crown made, in the House, that we have no right to have good roads running parallel to railways evidently,, as far aw iwe in the ‘South Island 1 are concerned, is that if we have railways we .should use them, showing a disinclination of the Government to apply a special tax for the purpose for which it was made.' “I think the time has come when we should look into the whole question of the 'Highways Board. I think we are getting into a very unsound! position when it is stated we cannot- put our hands on certain taxation.” Mr Ansell said counties were entitled to greater revenue for the upkeep of their roads, ami, it was the duty of counties, farmers, and motorists to get together and insist that the Government honour its obligations and that the proceeds o'f the petrol tax be applied' for roading purposes only, and not' be used to assist consolidated revenue. ‘‘ln viclw of the legislation 1 have referred! to which so seriously affects the motor transport of the ‘Dominion,” lie said, “there are two 'courses open to us; either to accept tamely the Government’s proposals, or fight. If we are going to fight we must have an organised fight.”

The conference unanimously passed (he following motion: “That the. union executive be empowered to take up the challenge as far as fight is concerned in that connection. ”