MOTOR VEHICLES TAX.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 235, 11 September 1924, Page 7

MOTOR VEHICLES TAX.

(To the Editor). Sir, —If the meeting convened for the purpose of discussing the Motor Vehicles Bill was fully reported, one very important phase was totally lost sight of. There was no plea advanced for the working farmers, to whom a motor car is a necessity, nor for the thrifty worker or artisan who has chosen to put his savings into a ear, rather than a cask. The bill bears an unmistakable appearance of having been conceived and brought forth by the wealthy Automobile Associations representative of the motordom that can afford to spend most of its time in touring the country, and that has made up its mind that for the accruing pleasure all will be called upon to pay. It was significantly noticeable by those on the qui vive that whilst Farmers’ Unions and other bodies representing the poorer classes advocated a tyre tax, which is indubitably the most equitable, the associations afore, said plumped for the flat tax; the effect of which mulcts the man who uses his car once a week to go to town, and the steady workman who takes

his wife and kiddies for an occasional run, 111 order to make "highways for the benefit 01 Crosus, who lives in his car and is continually on the roads. An expert (what a prodigious representation this genius has, if one is compelled to accept him at his own valuation, though in reality he's as rare as a constipated hy) says the amount ot revenue derivable from the proposed tax will prove inadequate, and the tax will have to be increased, if this proves to be the case, strenuous efforts will have to be directed towards the prevention of any increase of flat tax, and to ensuring that an increase ot the tyre tax be made the medium of any supplementary proposal. Mr Massey claims to be reducing taxation, but he would find it extremely difficult convincingly, to demonstrate that the genuine worker or producer is a beneficiary, and the Motor Vehicles Bill, by its unjust incidence, effectually nullifies and disposes of any claim that its provisions are anything but a concession to Dives and a corresponding penalty on thrift and industry. The recognised and accepted principle that taxation should be imposed on those best able to sustain it, and with due regard to equity, is being rudely reversed and ruthlessly violated by this measure, whereas a tyre tax would bear on a motorist precisely just in proportion to the use he makes of the roads. I penned the above several days ago, and also indited letters in like strain to our membdr, and to Mr Holland, and Mr Wilford, the latter two gentlemen courteously acknowledging receipt, and intimating that my representations were but part of many received. It is reasonable to expect endorsement of my views from any motorist for whose cause this is a feeble plea. Yours, etc., J. T. FAWCETT. Hastings, September 6th., ?924.