PETROL TAXATION BILL BECOMES LAW

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 6455, 12 November 1927, Page 9

PETROL TAXATION BILL BECOMES LAW

Committee Refuses Material Alterations ALLOCATION BETWEEN ISLANDS ( Special to “ Times.” ) (Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Motor Spirits Taxation Bill came up for consideration in Committee to-night surviving amendments proposing material alterations. A division was taken without division on Mr. Atmore’s amendment for a reduction of the petrol tax from Ad. to 2d. The amendment was defeated by 39 votes to 19. In respect to the Clause dealing with the allocation of the residue of tax Mr. Sidey moved an amendment proposing that the moneys should be apportioned between the North and South Islands at the discretion, of the Main Highways Board, but generally so that the amounts are fixed according to the number of motor vehicles in use in the respective Islands. Mr. Sidey explained that his object was to ensure that the new tax would be expended in the same way ae the tire tax and registration fees were expended at the present time. If the principle was right in one case it was surely right in the other, Mr. W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne: Two wrongs don’t make a right. ■ Mr. Sidey said he would bo sorry if his proposal were looked upon as a case of North v. South. A Member: What else is it! Mr. Lysnar: Throw it out. Mr. Lysnar condemned the proposal as wrong in principle. Mr. L. G. Sullivan said that the Minister might very reasonably accept the amendment. There was no doubt that .the main highways’ legislation had not operated successfully in the South Isdand. Mr. J. Kitchener, Waitaki: It is quite satisfactory in my district. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Veitch supportc- 1 the amendment because he said it was absolutely fair. The foundation principle of the Act was that users of the roads were t' - pay for the roads, and to what extent did the South Islanders use the North Island roads? Not very largely. Mr. Forbes submitted that there was cause for the South Island to complain in respect to its proportion of expenditure on main highways, and ho suggested that the revenue should be spread more equitably over the two Islands. The amendment was in the direction of ensuring a more equitable distri tuition. Under the present system South Islanders were being iuducca .. go North. The Minister for Public Works said he could not accept the amendment, not because of any question of Island against Island. So long as he was Minister he would endeavour to be fair t« both Islands. He did not want the Main Highways Fund tied up by any restrictions. The amendment was lost and the Bill passed.