MAIN HIGHWAYS BILL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 239, 21 September 1922, Page 2

MAIN HIGHWAYS BILL.

VIEWS OF MOTOR TO A DE. RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. The most important questions discussed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association, held in Dustin’s last week, were the memorandum of the Minister of Public Works, outlining the lines on which he proposes to draft the Main Highways Bill, and the question of special taxation. Excepting on the question of the vehicles tax, amounting to £150,000 per annum, the conference warmly approved the memorandum, ana the hope was expressed that the Government will proceed with the Bill during the present session of Parliament. The basis of taxation, however, was opposed as strongly as the general principle of the scheme was supported. The sincerity of the Government's desire to push the Bill thia session was seriously questioned during the discussions. Mr. W. S. Wilson, president of the Wellington Motor Traders’ Association, who was one of the Wellington representatives at the conference, eaid to an “Evening Post” reporter on Tuesday:—“We were all in entire accord with an arresting statement made by Mr. A. E. Ansell, president of the Otago Motor Club, that in all probability Mr. Massey had decided to drop the Bill for this session unless Mr. Coates, Minister of Public Works could find the necessary money. If Mr. Ansell’s statement is correct, the Prime Minister is attempting to put the responsibility for the delay on the shoulders of the motorists of New Zealand. The Main Highways Bill was ‘julled’ last session —in other words it was dropped then through th© influence of Mr. A. E. Jull, chairman of tho County Council’s Association. If we have to submit to a similar experience this session, we must point out to the people of this country that the Prim© Minister is the cause of the further postponement. He has the big voice in the matter, and must take the responsibility. “It was unanimously decided by the conference,’’ said Mr. Wilson, “that the motor industry was taxed to the limit, and that any additional taxation would do grievous harm to the industry, and likewise to tne development of the country, with’ which motoring interests are so intimately linked up. There is no reason why the Government should be afraid of Mr. Jull, as a large number of the county councillors are reasonable and fairminded business men, and do not hold ■with his opinions. Mr. Jull wants good roads, but wishes the motorists to pay the whole Bill and allow him to have it spent under his ridiculous scheme for groups of counties. Mr. Jull does not seem to have taken into consideration the increased value that would accrue to farm lands from the construction of good roads. The Government will act wisely if it pushes this vitally-important Bill through during the present session, and 1 hope and trust the people of New Zealand will emphatically demand that no further delay should take place.” One difficulty as to the attitude of the trade has so far been that the South Island Moor Union objected to the funds raised under the Highways Bill being administered by one board for the whole Dominion, and demanded a separate board for each island. Mr. Wilson states, however, that it was plainly evident at the conference that if it can be arranged that ail money raised in the South Island shall be distinctly earmaked for expenditure on the roads of that island, the southern objectors will consent to the administration of the whole fund by one board. On the question of taxation, Mr. Wilson quoted with approval a remark made in a lecture by Mr. H. C. Jones, president of the conference, who pointed out that a special tax on motor vehicles was a tax on essential transportation—a tax un efficiency. Among other business done by the conference, the proposed Motor Vehicles Bill was thrashed out, and many recommendations for the improvement of its workableness were made. A committee was appointed to draw up a standard system of compiling charges for repair work. The question of technical training of assistants in the motor trade was considered, and the delegates from the Wellington Association giyve useful information to those who proposed to form classes in their centres. A scheme for the formation of a New Zealand Guarantee Corporation for the purpose of financing the sale of motor-cars and trucks received the unanimous approval of the conference.