MOTOR UNION CRITICAL

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 6

MOTOR UNION CRITICAL

USE MADE OF PETROL TAX HIGHWAYS FUND RAIDED 9 SMALL PROPORTION LEFT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) THE CHATEAU, Feb. 19. ••There are repeated rumours that the Main Highways Board funds will be receiving a bigger raid than previously, and it lias even been suggested that a recommendation will come from the Treasury that the operations of the board should be restricted to practically nil on account of financial conditions,'’ said Mr. !Gb W. Hutchison, Auckland, delegate to tlie half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union being held here to-day. “During 1930, 68,309,072 gallons of petrol were imported into the Dominion,’’ said the report of the secretary adopted by the meeting. “In 1931 the imports had dropped to 61,844,702 gallons, which quantity was of a declared value of £1,343,306, equalling 4.8 d per gallon. The present tax and surtax on petrol equal 8.4 d per gallon. We therefore have a declared value of 4.8 d per gallon with a tax and surtax of 8.4 cl per gallon. That equals a tax of 175 per cent, on the declared value of petrol ana over 200 per cent, on an ad valorem basis. A duty of 200 per cent, ad valorem is an extraordinarily high rate of duty. “This is bad enough in itself, but the situation becomes infinitely worse if examined in the light of wiiat has happened to the road fund during 1931 and what appears likely to happen during 1932 if last year’s legislation is not modified.

“The petrol tax collected during 1931, excluding surtax £8.1,607 and an additional 2d per gallon imposed by the Supplementary Budget (which during the short period it was in force yielded £112,092), amounted to £1,51.7,952, less rebates made through the post office £132,790, less cost of making the rebate £2637, less cost of collecting the tax retained by the Customs Department calculated at the rate of £1 3s 8d per cent. £17,190, a total of £152,617, leaving the amount actually received by the Main Highways Board £1,365,365. “This £1,365,365 was subjected to the following reductions and board charges hitherto carried by the Consolidated Fund to the extent of £591,000: Deduction and charges and annual grant from Consolidated Fi\ml discontinued, £55,000; five per cent, interest on free grant made in the past, £61,000; subsidy to local authorities which for the past 50 years has been charged on the Consolidated Fund, £220,000; 12) per cent, rebate on county and road board rates, £250.000; taken for backblock roads, £50,000; total, £616,000. This left for the Main Highways Board £749,345. “The position that has arisen from last year’s legislation is one. which must" give motorists grave cause for concern. The £749,000 equals 2.9 d per gallon when divided by the number of gallons of petrol imported, so the I roads fund is now worse off bv more than a penny per gallon than it was when the petrol tax was only 4d per gallon.” HEARING OF COURT CHARGES. HOME TOWN OF DEFENDANT’S. THE CHATEAU, Feb. 19. The half-yearly conference of the North Island Motor Union, held here to-dav. was attended by delegates of all the associations concerned and by a representative of the South Island Union.

Tho union decided to make efforts to have evidence taken in the town of residence of motorists facing breaches of regulations in tilt* Magistrate’s Court instead of their having to travel to a court many miles distant. -Mr. E. A. Batt (Wellington) said Police Inspector Lopdell (V> ellington) entirely approved of that, and he did not think there would he much resistance from police solicitors. The Auckland and Wellington Automobile Associations were in entire agreement that such procedure should he allowed. Replies to a circular to associations as to the advisability of including a colour vision test for licenses were mainly against the measure, which was rejected by the meeting.

REMITS APPROVED

SIGNALS AND CONTROL

THE CHATEAU, Fob. 19,

Remits passed at to-day’s conference of the North Island Mo.tor Union urged uniformity of traffic signals throughout New Zealand; the need for impressing on those in charge the necessity for proper control and scavenging at motor camps; the wearing o uniforms or distinctive badges by local bodv officers while on duty: the need for "teachers giving monthly lessons on safety first to pupils under their jurisdiction, and the need tor the enforcement of the regulations regarding the stopping of vehicles on the wrong side of the road, this applying particulailj to mail cars. _____