ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 307, 26 November 1937, Page 4

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

COST OF BETTERMENT. THE MOTORISTS’ LIABILITY. “The motor unions must work in with the Government of the day on matters in which such subjects as taxation are a big feature,” remarked Mr N. H. Mackie, immediate past president of the Manawatu Automobile Association, at a gathering tendered him last evening. “Therefore,” added Mr Mackie, ‘the motor unions must take up the attitude that they want a fair thing and a fair thing only.” Mr Mackie paid a tribute to a former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, saying it was to him, and practically to him alone, that the motorists owed the retention of the Highways Fund. There had been proposals that it be a part of the Consolidated Fund, and representations had been made to Mr Coates for the fund to be retained. He had consented. At the present time, continued Mr Mackie, it was hoped that a portion of the 4jd road tax per gallon of petrol would be eliminated, but if the Government was prepared to spend oil the roads, judiciously and consistently, the funds that were so raised, then the motorists had nothing to complain about. In the Auckland and TTel-

liimton areas the roads had been considerably improved over the last few vears If the motorists intended to fecniest that these improvements be carried further, then they could not fairly ask lor a reduction in taxation Touching on co-operation between the automobile associations and local bodies, Mr Mackie said that • motorists saw certain things which also interested the local bodies “from the other side of the road, but as long as they viewed them fairly from that side it would be all right.