AN AMENDING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 3

AN AMENDING BILL

MOTOR SPIRITS TAX

HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES TAXATION. i WELLINGTON, September 25. An amendment of the Motor Spirits Taxation Act, introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message in the House today Avas promptly greeted With a question from members as to_ whether ■ ; t provides for some relief to owners of ■leai'y motor A r ehicles. The Ministerial reply was in the negative. The Bill deals solely Avith the .procedure for securing refunds on motor spirits used for other than road purposes, One clause specifically states that exemptions include farm tractors which are used solely for agricultural purposes and not used on any road except when proceeding to or from a farm. This exemption is retrosnectri e from the passing of last year’s Act. and refunds in respect of spirits used can be made Avithin ninety days of consumption or before October 31 next, whichever date is the later.

To regularise the sA r stem of refunds the Bill provides that applications must in future (be made for. quarterly oeriods ending on the last days of March, June, September and December in the month following the close of these periods, .though in excepti-on-i.l cases the Registrar of Motor Vehicles is empowered to make , a special arrangement. The Minister of Public Works, replying to inquiries regarding heavy traffic fees, stated that the Bill did not deal with this question. Mr J. A. L/3 (Auckland East,) suggested that .the House would like to have an assurance from tlie Government that, some steps would be taken to .relieve .heavy traffic of srnne.. of the harsh obligations imposed on it. which were crushing men out of business. Qniv ..that .day j>e had repqiA’ed ufon’r o.r .fiAje (jojuniphications from ,svib.staptial (firms -in Auckland, who, are finding . its difficult ,to .maintain .their transport .and continue to pay the heavy charges. The Hon. K. S. Williams expressed the opinion that possibly relief could he given, if necessary, without additional legislation this session. This ,was not a thing which could he done .hastily, and the Gor-ernment had told a deputation that the advice of local ■bodies' and engineers wopld have to be .taken before anything could .be done.