HASTENING TOO QUICKLY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3279, 14 March 1931, Page 3

HASTENING TOO QUICKLY

PETROL TAXATION. Palmerston North, Wednesday. "I think this way—we are hastening a bit too quickly," remarked Councillor E. Barber, chairman, at ysterday's meeting of the Manawatu County Council, when commenting upon cori*espondence from certain county councils, recommending support for proposals as to alterations in the incidence of road taxation. "My opinion is," said the chairman, "that if we go on increasing the petrol tax the man with a car will end up by leaving it in the shed. I think the car owner is already paying enough petrol tax. We have to remember we are only a young country with a population of just over a million and a half, and

we should hesitate before supporting the different schemes which are being put forward to increase roading taxation.

Councillor J. H. Perrett considered that counties, in soliciting support for their resolutions, overlooked the functions of the Counties' Conference, where all such questions could be fully considered. "We should not be asked to consider these questions, which vary so greatly in purpose. There are too many resolutions of the kind coming forward, and I think the Counties' Conference is the proper place for all such proposals to be considered." Councillor Perrett was in accord with the chairman's view that the motorist was already paying a very fair share of the roading costs. Councillor J. H. Boyce also voiced a protest against the action of county councils in passing resolutions suggesting further petrol tax-

ation. The motor car owner contributed substantially to roading costs to-day, and in his opinion there was room for inquiry as to the justice of some of the taxation already carried out by the motorist. The view of Councillor Perrett that such questions should be referred to the Counties' Conference was endorsed by the council, and it was agreed to refer the resolutions back to the counties with this opinion.