THE PETROL TAX

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 3

THE PETROL TAX

MOTORISTS PROTEST AGAINST AMOUNT

(By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail”)

WELLINGTON, Bth Nov

On Thursday motorists from all over the Dominion will meet the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) to protest against the amount of the petrol tax. The motorists are quite willing that the tax should be imposed, but object to the amount upon which the Government has settled.

The (Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) lias informed representative motor bodies that the Government's intention is that there shall be one universal system of taxation for the motorists and that the petrol tax shall provide it. With this new levy in operation special taxation of motorists by local bodies is to be ended. One of the reasons for the Government’s step was that no less than eleven requests had been received from local bodies for permission to introduce local bills validating taxation of motorists for roadworks. These followed upon the success of the Hutt road levy, imposed by the Wellington City Council under the Hutt Road Act for the paving in bitumen of a seven-mile strip of main highway between Thorndon and Petonc. It is the intention of the motorists’ associations to suggest a' levy ot 2d or 3d instead of the amount fixed. Pourpence is felt to be too much. At the name time it is recognised that the Government needs for main highways and financing of local bodies must- he met, and it is probable that the motorists will accept any tax which is demonstrated to them to he necessary. The present tax will provide a surplus, it is stated, and to surpluses from this taxation the motorists are opposed.