Taxation on Motorists

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 84, 10 April 1935, Page 10

Taxation on Motorists

UNIONS’ REPLY TO MINISTER Per Press Association. HAWERA, April S. 'The North and South Island Motor Unions have issued the following statement in a further reply to Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates on the subject of motorists’ taxation: — “In stating that the motorists have not established a claim to priority in tax reductions, Mr. Coates entirely, and no doubt conveniently, overlooks the indisputable fact that tho Government" has not at any stage advanced any reasons other than specious ones in support of its action in inflicting discriminatory taxation on tho motor vehicle owner. Every time in late years that the Government has found itself short of .money it has come down on the motorists like a wolf on the fold. The amount of taxation exacted by the Government from transport is simply clogging progress and hindering prosperity. “Wo have already challenged the figures quoted by Mr. Coates in support of his contention that the major portion of the motor taxation is passed on by the motor owner. Mr. Coates ignores our challenge and we now state definitely that the figures quoted by him are pure assumption. Even if they were capable of substantiation they still would prove nothing. Just tho same sort of illogical reasoning misled the Government into first of all raiding the road ‘fund to the tune of hundreds of thousands and when experiencing deathbed repentance handing the same money back to tho Toad fund, but as loan interest. The automobile associations are perfectly justified in objecting to this sort of" budgetary manipulation. , _ j “Mr. Coates claims that any analysis of the figures we quoted as the sum of the burden which the Government has imposed on the motorist indicates that w© have included the third party insurance. This ‘analysis’ is more guesswork and the guesser has again guessed , .wrong. In. attempting to , prove that the motorist is not unfairly taxed Mr; Coates has set himself an impossible task;”