ROADING TAXES

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1934, Page 10

ROADING TAXES

RELIEF FOR FARMER HON. BITCHENER DROPS HINT. , MONEY FROM PETROL IMPOST. . I The opinion that there was a possj liility of more money I'roin the petrol tax being made available for roading and that loss would be absorbed hy the Consolidated Fund, as in the past, was expressed to members of the Wlmnga rei County Council by the Mon. .1. Mb ehener, Minister of Public Works, this morning. 1 Mr ßitchenor said he was not making the statement definitely, but he though; the requests made by numerous deputations to the Ministers eoneerned were earning a sympathetie consideration. These statements were made in reply to Mr T, A. B. Mac Kay, who stresseii the need for restoring to the HighwayAccount all revenue received from motor taxation, so that the land migV, lie relieved from rating for reading purposes. “It must be apparent to Ministers of the Crown that the present system of rating for reading purposes is break jug down under its own weight,’' said Mr Mac Kay. “The Government itself was the first to realise the mifairnes.-, of rating the hind for loads, and has refused to pay rates on the la ml it owns. The natives also (hid it impossible to pay rates,’’ said Mr ,\I;i" Kay. For many years the Government had bought lauds which were settled by m turned soldiers, and local bodies found that those properties, mortgaged to lie' Crown, paid hardly any rates. Unbearable Burden. The burden on the few remaining landowners who paid rates — the number was getting small —was unbearably heavy. Some years ago a scheme was brought down —the Ala in Highways ■Act —by which it was hoped the laud owners would he relieved. For sonm time it fulfilled that purpose, in PE's, however, the Government Avithdrew the contribution from the Consolidated Fund, and since that time the Government’s contribution had boon taken from the petrol tax. In recent years, however, the ('onsolidated Fund had drawn from the Petrol Tax Fund. The ratepayers were less able to pav, and, after constructing and maintaining the roads, Avere paying a heavy lob for using the roads. The cost of maintaining roads Avas becoming very heavy, and the land-owner felt he Avar being harshly treated. They did. no* wish to escape any of their reading liabilities, providing the money paid by others for the use of the roads Avonld be used for the maintenance of those roads. By utilising the petrol tax for roan lag purposes, the non-payment nf native rates, and the problem of the Government mortgagor, would be eliminated. Both natives and occupiers of CroAvn lands had to pay petrol tax. Not Asking for De-rating, “We are not asking for total derating, but that the toll placed on uses' m.'j, i of the roads should go to the mobile i anee of the roads being used,” mlde ! Mr Mac Kay. “We are not asking foe further taxation on the motorist.’’ Ministerial Opinion. “ Yon never hear of this question in my district, but I have met it repeatedly in the North,’’ said the Minister. “Things have developed very quickly since the petrol tax Avas imposed. The belief is still held by some of <mr politicians that the taxation should go into the general fund. I do not think that. The tax was placed on imdoris’s for maintaining the roads. “i. see that in the North you am hard pressed for roads, but i can see staring some of you in the face the liability nf maintaining the roads after they are made,’’ the Minister concluded.