MOTORISTS AND TAXES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 8

MOTORISTS AND TAXES.

FLAT RATE FAVOURED. I AUCKLAND ATTITUDE. ; ADVANTAGES OF THE SYSTEM J The proposed flat tax on motor-vehicles, < as contained in the Highways BiH, "was 3 considered by the committee of the Auck- < land Automobile Association, last evening. Mr. W. Coltman presided. '. Mr. M. H. Wynyard, one of the Auck- i land delegates ,;to the Main Roads Con- < ferenco held in Wellington in June, : moved: " That this association approves the statement bv the New Zealand Auto- < mobile Union agreeing to an annual license or registration fee hot exceeding £2 per car flat rate." Mr. Wynyard said the Minister for Public Works had emphatically stated that it would be necessary to have further taxation, beyond the actual tyre taxation, imposed on motorists. The Motor Vehicles Act of last year provided to all intents and purposes, so far ae ordinary cars were concerned, a flat rate of £5 a car. That was considered by New Zealand motorists as quite unreasonable. The association thought the tyre tax was the fairest. From nis personal standpoint he would say it seemed quite advisable tfhat there should be some special taxation, on cars, for the public would be very apt to forget that a car was taxed through the tyre tax, and in the course of a few Saaars a clamour would arise for taxJs directly on cars. The improving of the highways would introduce a large amount of traffic into the cities. It was suggested that the motorists were contributing mainly toward the main road scheme, but the Government would be bearing half the amount out of general revenue. The suggestion had been advanced that if thero were direct taxation on cars there would be a restricted use of cars, but he was satisfied that with as little as £2 tax their use would increase materially, if that were the means of bringing into operation improvements of their main road system. Mr. H. C. Jones moved as an amendment, "that the association disapproves of the principle of a flat tax on motor vehicles." His contention was that if they once approved of that tax it would not go through at £2, but would lead to nearer £5, as originally proposed. Mr. G. M. White seconded the amendment. Considerable discussion ensued, with the result that the motion proposed by Mr. Wynyard was carried.