PENNY TAX ON PETROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 8

PENNY TAX ON PETROL.

SCHEME IN NEW BILL.

CONFERENCE OF USERS. EARLY ISSUE OP PROPOSALS. [BT XSMffiRAPH. —OWW COttRESPOSrDEJfT.] CHRISTCHTJBCH. Saturday. A discussion regarding the petrol tax, which will be included in the Government's Motor Bill, took place at a meeting of the executive of tho South Island Motor Union. The chairman, Mr. J. S. Hawkes, said that he had "recently seen the Minister for Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, and had been told by him that when the Bill was ready a conference of all motor organisations and all users of petrol would be held to discuss it. Mr. Coates said that a tax of one penny a gallon; on all imported petrol would produce £80,000. The Minister had stated that exemption would undoubtedly be required for some of the users of petrol, and these exemptions would take various forms. Mr. F. W. Johnston remarked that it seemed as if the Government would have to pay as much for the expenses of the army of officials which would be required to deal with applications for exemptions, as would be" raised by means of the petrol tax. Mr. Hawkes stated that Mr. Coates had told him that-the Motor Bill would have to raise a certain amount of revenue, and any methods of so doing, which appeared possible, were mentioned in the Bill. The Bill was nearly complete, and within a week or so copies would be sent to the various motor organisations for discussion.