MOTOR TAXATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 229, 27 August 1937, Page 9

MOTOR TAXATION

HIGHWAYS POLICY. UNION’S INTEREST. “The problems of motor taxation and highways policy have been very important matters in the union’s activities,” stated Dr. E. E. Porritt, actingpresident, in his report at the annual conference of the North Island Motor Union in Wanganui yesterday. “A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs G. W. Hutchison, \V. A. Sutherland and the secretary, was appointed at the half-yearly meeting to bring down a report on the matter, and after a great deal of work by them it has been made available for jour consideration. It is understood that the revenue from motor taxation reached a now record level in excess of 51 million pounds during the past financial year. Although the aggregate number of motor vehicles shows a very considerable increase, the yield of taxation per vehicle continues to increase, as is shown in the following table. That the main advantage of such taxation increase is enjoyed by tlie Consolidated Fund is apparent from the statement- of the allocation of such yield expressed oil a percentage basis, as follows:

Percentage of Taxation Yield Allocated to—

“When it is considered that motorists as ordinary taxpaj'ers are called upon to meet their obligations in State taxation, it is apparent how inequitable it is to tax motorists as such for general revenue purposes. Some relief has been given in that the practice of retaining £500,000 per annum of highways funds in the Consolidated Fund has been discontinued, and in addition an announcement has been made to the effect that the financing of rebates to county ratepayers is not to be a charge against the highways fund this year. Even though these provisions are in accordance with our requests, they fall very far short of what is considered necessary fairly to distribute the tax burden. The recommendations in the report of the subcommittee are designed to effect improvement in tlie manner desired.

“It is pleasing to record that, we have bad the ladvn.ntagc of Mr Wynvard’s services as the motorists’ representative on the Main Highways Board. I would like to take this opportunity of assuring Mr Wynyard that his services as a member of that important body are appreciated by this union.”

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