HIGHWAYS BOARD

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1930, Page 3

HIGHWAYS BOARD

THE CONSTITUTION QUESTION.

A circular letter from the Papakura sister organisation was read at the Whaugarei Chamber of Commerce meeting last night. It dealt with the constitution of the Highways Board as follows:

“My chamber at its- lasr meeting passed the following- resolution, and directed that a copy should be sent to each chamber of conurierce in Now Zealand for its opinion: (a) That in the opinion of this chamber the time lias arrived for a drastic alteration in the constitution of the Main Highways Board, in order to give effect to the well established principle that there should be no taxation -without tuleopiat'f representation, (b) That the .Main Highways Board consist of one representative of the Public Works Department, two representatives (one for each island) appointed by the motor associations, tt\o by the Coun- ] ties’ Association, one by municipalities, and one by commercial motor j vehicle owners, (c) That the Governj ment be urged to give effect to the | above resolutions. i “A perusal of the Publvi Works ('Statement for 392-9 shows that out of j a total of receipts of £3,<568,701, the sum of £790,414 was obtained, from the j petrol tax, £244,000 .»>om fees and

fines, and £196,747 from the tyre tax, a total of £1,171,161 provided by motor owners. For the current year practically the whole of the receipts will be obtained from motorists.

“Motor owners’ representation on the Main Highways Board L, at present, one member, with three Government members and two counties’ members. My chamber submits that,' as motorists find the greater part of the funds made available to the board, their representatives on the board should be increased to throe, at the expense of the Government representatives, more particularly in view of Ihe fact that, according to infest advices, the Government will not be finding, out of its general funds, any part of the moneys to bo used by the board. My chamber will be glad of an expression of opinion from you on the above matter.” The letter was received.