The Northland Age OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE FARMERS’ UNION. Published on Wednesdays. Price Twopence. Wednesday September 12 1928 PETROL TAX

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 66, 12 September 1928, Page 4

The Northland Age OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE FARMERS’ UNION. Published on Wednesdays. Price Twopence. Wednesday September 12 1928 PETROL TAX

Although 1 übhc opinion is 1 still divided on the fairness of j the petrol tax, we believe that j the passing of the Act was the most beneficial piece of legislation placed on the statute book, ' for the ratepayers, and purlieu- | larlv those in the country, by the Reform Party. The principle of the tax, that the user of the 1 road pays, is a sound one, and 1 the proposed allocation of the money collected will, when spent ease the burden of the country ratepayer considerably. Not ' that a substantial decrease will be made in the rates but the tax will h an insurance against a rise end better class roads. Certainly the amount of rates demanded this year bv the Mangonui County Council will be considerably less than that of previous years owing to the fact that the sum of £3,500 being the amount o! settlement for native rates up to March 1930, being credited to ti e various ridings in proportion to the amount of native rates outs’ andiug. The estimated amount the Petrol tax will yield is £750000 and it is proposed to distribute that amount as follows, 24 per cent for the maintenance of highways, 25 per cent for secondary roads, 23 per cent for countries near the towns, 12 per cent j for sinking fund and interest, and j 4 per cent for small boroughs. The 25 per cent for our secondary roads represent £187,500 and it can be readily seen that the expenditure of this amount will be a boon to settlers on these roads. It is stated that the estimated sum of £750,000 will probably be exceeded and that an additional amount will be available for the main roads in country districts. We strongly support the Petrol Tax and believe that the passing of the Act wjis a genuine endeavour on the part of the Reform P..ry to ease the burden of the ratepayers in the country. But there is a fly in the ointment. The Act exempts from, tax all petrol other than that used by motor traffic. The petrol used in miiking machines is exempt and a refbnd is given on application. This brings us to the crux of our article. The procedure to be adopted to secure the refund is so complicated to the average farmer that many are not receiving the refund they are entitled to. The Act provides far a line up to £3O for incorrect statements made when applying for a refund and the questions asked on the application forms are such that it is impossible to answer them and be certain of their correctness. Rather than run the risk of a fine many do not apply for a refund. The collection of the tax from the distributing depots would be tar simpler than the present method and would be the means of saving much work at present done by the postal staff and those who are entitled to a refund.