MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 January 1929, Page 2

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL FAVOURS INCREASED PETROL TAX IF NECESSARY.

MAKING THE USER PAY

The principle of a higher petrol tax, if necessary for the maintenance of the highways, was affirmed at the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday. The Taurange County Council submitted a copy of its resolution advocating the direct taxation of motorists for the maintenance of main roads. It suggested that, if this Council viewed the matter similarly, it should communicate with the Minister and the members of Parliament in its district.

The Chuiripan (Mr G. A. Monk) remarked that there was already a petrol tax; but if there was taken into consideration the change that -had taken place in the class of traffic in recent years, perhaps all .the roads should be maintained by a tax contributed by' the users. There were obstacles in the way of that; and the farmer or the man who owned the land should still contribute something, as he would be using the roads> to some extent, particularly in moving stock . In regard to the Main Highways, however, the user should j>ay the whole Upkeep. If that could not be brought about until the petrol tax was increased, then he would say, increase the tax. Cr. Gimblett said he did not know whether the Tauranga Council had read the Ministerial announcement that a conference was to be called with a view to reducing motor taxation. He viewed that proposal with some alarm, because he thought that the man on the land was contributing more than his share, and only in the case of the main roads was he getting a better road. He did not think that the time had quite come to increase the tax. It was understood that the Highways Hoard had sufficient funds to carry on. The Hoard was doing good work, and if it increased the subsidy on the lines of subsidiary highways and its funds were ample, he would say, let avoll alone. If a conference was to be called, he hoped that this Council would bo represented at it, to safeguard their interests. Cr. Catlcy said ho thoroughly agreed with the application of the petrol tax, Tfic wear and tear of the main roads in the county was alarming. He understood that one.of the Cabinet Ministers was going to make ah effort to reduce motor-lorry taxation, and he viewed that with alarm. The motor lorries were competing with the railways. If the Tauranga Council had asked this Council to support an increase of 2d per gallon, he would support the proposal. The user of the roads should pay, whether they were main or district roads.

Or. Kilsby said that, from what he could gather from reports, the Tauranga Council wore asking for an increase of the petrol tax. He did not feel inclined to support that, for the reason that many of the main roads weic receiving a large portion of the tax, and it was only a matter of time when they would not require that amount of money to be spent on them. At 4d a gallon the amount of money being collected to-day would, after a time, in* of some assistance to their district roads. At present he did not think that the Council could favour an increase of the petrol tax. 'Cr. Jensen strongly objected to any Increase in the petrol tax. He staved that about two millions more in taxation was being collected annually, according to the Prime Minister’s report just before the election. He took it that the sum collected in motor taxation was enormous, and it was increasing from year to year because of the growth of road traffic. He would support an increase of the petrol tax if the Government took over all the main roads and nationalised them, relieving local ratepayers of the burden. If the Council favoured an increase of the petrol tax, they would be putting a heavy burden on ratepayers who were users of the roads. For that reason he must oppose the Tauranga resolution, especially when it came from "the roadless North." The Chairman: They are not in "the

roadless North,” but in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Or. Jensen: What kind of roads have they got there? The .Chairman: They have any amount of Representatives who claim to have roads. Cr. Jensen: Paper roads.

Cr. Barber: Some of the worst roads in the Island are in the Ilorowhenua county. Cr. Jensen: I agree with you—that is, up your way.

Cr. Barber: If you are going to allow unlimited loads, then whatever class of road you make they will spoil

The Chairman moved, and Cr. Ryder seconded, that this Council endorse the levying of a petrol tax; .and that, if further money is required for the maintenance of their roads, the Council agree to the increasing of the petrol tax.

Cr. Catley said he would support the motion. If the ratepayers did ■ not agree to an increase of the levy in that way, it would have to be made directly on them, and before very long. The "motion was carried. Only Cr. Jensen voted against, and he claimed that in doing so he was consistent.