MOTOR VEHICLES BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 9 September 1924, Page 2

MOTOR VEHICLES BILL

DISCUSSION IN TARANAKI

TAX BY WEIGHT FAVOURED

The Taranaki County Council consul ers a tax (in motor cars according li their weight, is preferable to a flat ta of £2, aiid it hag instructed its delt gate to n conference of Taranaki Count; Councils to advocate such an amendmen to the Motor Vehicles Bill. '• ‘ - Mr W. Thomas opened the discussion ■at a meeting this week, by proposing that the council e.xprcss its entire disapproval of the flat tax on cars. It was not fair, he said, that the large numbei of small farmers who wen. in possession of comparatively low-priced cars shoulc have to contribute on an equal basis tithe upkeep of highways which would lx used chiefly by tourists and lorry-driv-ers.

Other members agreed that while the flat tax was not .entirely equitable in its incidence, the same could be s,aid of practically all taxes. The Government, to provide good roads, must obtain .its money somehow, and a tax on the cars’ which used the roads seemed the fairest method-