FEES FOB MOTOR TRUCKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18296, 12 January 1923, Page 8

FEES FOB MOTOR TRUCKS.

PROTEST BY THE OWNERS.

AN ASSOCIATION FORMED.

The recent , increases in the heavy traffic fees charged by the City Council were the subject of discussion at an indignatiqn meeting of motor-lorry owners held on' Wednesday evening. . Mr. J. W. Lovell presided over a large attendance. It wjis stated by the chairman that the smaller truck owners would have to pay 400 per cent, more in fees than previously, and the larger track owners only 87£ per cent. more. He did not consider that was fair. He said the City Council had expended £189,470 out of loan money on 39 streets. It had raised from traffic licenses £5494, of which it had paid to 17 road boards and borough coun cils £2305, leaving- £3189, or a little over 1£ per cent, of the amount spent on roads.

If the City Council taxed motor-cars, of which there were in Auckland approximately 8000, said Mr. Lovell, at £o each, this would bring in £40,000 a year; if the 400 taxis in the city were taxed at £2 each, this would produce £800 annually; while a similar number of horsedrawn vehicles at the same figure would also yield £800, and 600 push-bicycles and cycles at £1 each ;W<?uld produce £600 a year. He suggested that the heavy motors and ton trucks could be taxed as follows: One ton, £5; two to three tons, £7 10s; three to four tons, £10; four to five tons, £12 10s. This would yield a total of. £1850 annually. His suggestions would, therefore, yield over £40,000 a year, and at 5 per cent, would produce an amount that would provide good roads. The chairman said a deputation had protested against the increased fees when the new by-law was under consideration, but the council had proceeded with the latter. The main object of the meeting was to form- an association of motorlorry owners. It was only by united action that notice would be taken of them by the local bodies. It was decided to form an association, to be called the Auckland and Suburban Motor Truck Owners' Association. Mr. F. Martin was appointed secretary, and the following provisional committee was elected: —Messrs. Lovell, Dyer," Rothery, Wilson, DoveJ Riramer, and Andrew*. The fees being payable on Monday, which is prior to the next meeting of the City Council, it was decided to endeavour to interview the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gun»on, or his deputy, Mr. G. Baildon, in the meantime, with a view. of having the collection of the heavy traffic fees postponed until a deputation can be heard by the council.

Those present who had not paid the fees announced that they would not do bo, pending the action contemplated. It was agreed that a further meeting should be held this evening.