NEW PETROL TAX

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4820, 7 August 1939, Page 5

NEW PETROL TAX

BURDEN ON FARMERS. WAIKATO PROTEST. DEFENCE EXCUSE SCOUTED. A protest against the new petrol tax was made at a meeting of the Waikato executive of the Farmers’ Union when Mr. J. H. Furniss moved: “That his meeting strongly protests against the increase in the petrol and fuel oil tax as a heavy additional burden upon primary production."

The motion added that the increased cost of transport, direct and indirect, would inevitably be passed on to the farmers and would seriously add to his'costs. Especially would this be the case with those living further back and therefore least able to bear the burden.

Mr. Furniss said the tax would also increase the cost of operating oil-driven farm machinery. The plea that it was an emergency tax for defence purposes could not be accepted, since such a burden should be shared equally. He regarded the tax as a distinct class imposition. A member pointed out that, while the country might find most of the petrol tax, the cities would find most of the man-power in case of an emergency. Mr. Furniss said that the Government probably did not appreciate the tremendous reactions the imposition of the tax would have on the farming community. Milk and cream cartage contracts, bobby calf cartage com tracts and rural mail contracts would be given up or would have to be let at a much higher cost. The suggestion that it was for defence was a ridiculous afterthought, and was made to make it palatable to the people.

Doubt whether the tax would bring in the amount expected was expressed by Mr. H. Johnstone, who said many people would push bicycles rather than use their cars. The motion was carried.