MOTORS AND ROADS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 186, 22 July 1920, Page 6

MOTORS AND ROADS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AUTO UNION. METHODS OF TAXING DISCUSSED. Wellington. July 22. The annual conference of the New Zea'and Automobile Union opened today. The first matter considered was the question of motor taxation, which had been the ground of the resignation ot ’!■(, president. XTr. P, S. McLean, ol Napier in that he did not agree with the policy of the union's executive in regard to a tax on tyres. 1 Mr. Ivan Wilson (Wairarapa Assn.) moved that the resolution of the annual meeting of 1915 regarding a tax on tyres be- rescinded. In the course of an interesting discussion which followed, it was stated that the value of imports of tyres and tabes into New Zealabd last year -was .ei .000.000. Some speakers emphasised the necessity of seeing that the money paid b} motorists should be spent on roads. The Government shon’d receive and handle the money. It was contended that local authorities were at present taxed unfairly anil irregularly, and there was no guarantee that the nione’ went on the roads which were in a scandalous state. The motion for recession was lost almost unanimously, and a motion wa; adopted asking: “That the tax should be by special Statute on tyres: tha tire scale of taxation should be graduated for different classes of tyres, pro needs to be Used entirely for improve ment of roads and be administered by an independent board representing the interests of those concerned; that nc. rebates be allowed and that no othei taxes be allowable; and that the tax be levied proportionately on all road users. LIOO,GOT A MERE DROP.

I The Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. J. Anderson), replying to representations said the-amount suggested to be raised by taxation, £lOO,000. was a, mere drop" in the bucket for : road improvement. .Motorists must ’ contribute more than double that amount, whether the tax be on tyres, or on weight and power. He was opposed to a general wheel tax, which Parlia- ' ment would never pass. Rebates on taxation must be granted, discriminating between vehicles used for pleasure and for business. He agreed to the necessity for annual registration, but thought the problem of uniform by-laws difficult through l.K’al pride. Every driver should be licensed. Legislation would be largely on the' ’ines of Si>’ F. I). Bell’s Bill of ■914, with improvements. All motor tax proceeds would be used on roads through the National' Road Board.