MOTOR TAXATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 231, 30 August 1937, Page 2

MOTOR TAXATION

URGE FOR REDUCTION. REPRESENTATIONS TO BE MADE. Per Press Association. HAWERA, Aug. 28. Representations to the Government on the question of the yield and distribution of motor taxation, including Customs duties on motor vehicles and parts, the petrol tax, tire tax and the many license tees relating to motor vehicles, are to be made by a deputation comprising the chief officers of the North and South Island motor unions and the presidents and secretaries of all the affiliated automobile associations of the Dominion. s A decision to place the motorists case for a reduction in motor taxation before the Minister of Finance was reached after a discussion taken in committee at the annual conferenceol the North Island Motor Union at Wanganui on Thursday. _ The recommendations are summarised as follow : ""That British motor vehicles unassembled be imported on the same basis as industrial machinery; that motor vehicles from countries other than those included in the forgoing be subject to.a duty only sufficient to assist in protecting local employment wtih a differentiation as between British and other motor vehicles to retain this preference; that the levy on motor spirit of 4id a gallon for general purposes l>e abandoned and that the 92 per cent, of fid a gallon assigned to the Main Highways Board be for its exclusive use in roading purposes and subject to no diversion whatever. “Justification for the action being taken is found' in the fact that since 1931 the yield from motor taxation has increased bv over £2.500 000,’' said Mr G H Laurence, secretary of the North Island union. “The total yield from motor taxation in 1937. expressed in round figures, was £5.500.000. an increase of approximately £1.000.000 over the figure for 193fi. The yield from motor tax expressed on the hasis ot the average number of vehicles registered shows an increase during the 1931-37 period of from £l7 13s 9d a vehicle in 1931 to £24 lis lid a vehicle in 1937.”