UPKEEP OF HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18760, 14 July 1924, Page 9

UPKEEP OF HIGHWAYS.

COUNTY COUNCILS CONFER. PROPOSALS 44 INEQUITABLE." MOTORISTS AND THE FARMER. ["BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Saturday. A conference of representatives of county councils was held in Hamilton yesterday to discuss the Main Highways Act, tho Motor Vehicles Bill, and to consider the question of arriving at some equitable scheme of taxation for the maintenance of county roads as it affected the touring motorists and the farmer. Mr. J. P. Bailey (Waikato) presided and the Waikato, Waitomo, Waipa, Rotorua, Franklin, Ot-orohanga. Ohura, and Matamata Counties were represented. Mr. C. K. Wilson (Waitomo) said the principle should be established that the users of tha roads should pay for their maintenance. Fifty per cent. of the present tyre tax was paid by the farmers, and under the Highways Act the farmer would pay two thirds and the pleasuremotorist, one third of the cost of maintenance. Mr. Wilson considered a petrol tax should be imposed so that the motorist would pay in accordance with the mileage he travelled. Mr. R, Boddie (Waitomo) contended that tho County Councils should be given an opportunity of discussing the Motor Vehicles Bill before it became law. It was considered that motorists generally should pay higher taxation for road maintenance and thus relieve the fanners of part of their burden. Mr. Gee (Rotorua) and Mr. Young (Otorohanga) supported the proposal that a benzine tax should be imposed. Mr. T. H. Henderson (Waikato) considered the system of taxation levied under the Highways Act imposed an unfair burden on the settlers. He objected to the Highways Act as it diverted money from the interior roads and penalised the settlors unduly. Mr. Stewart Reid (Waipa) maintained that the motorist who wanted good roads should pay more than he was doing for maintenance charges. Several speakers urged the calling of the Counties' Association together to discuss the question of taxation. It was finally resolved, " that in the opinion of this meeting it is considered Highways taxation is inequitable and unjust, and that before the proposed Motor Vehicles Bill is brought down a copy of the bill be circulated to all county councils for their discussion and comments, and this meeting urges that a neeting of the Counties' Association be called at once to consider Main Highway taxation as it affects motorists and other users of all roads and to urge the necessity of the bill being circulated for discussion at the earliest possible date." OPPOSITION TO CONFERENCE. A POSTPONEMENT URGED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE KUITI. Saturday. In reference to the conference called by the Waitomo County Council at, Hamilton to consider the Motor Vehicles _ Bill a letter jjvas received by the council at its meeting this , week from Mr. M. H. Wynyard, of the Main Highways Board, Sointmg out that no one outside _ the [inister at present knows the provisions of. that bill which had not been circulated or the contents communicated to any person. He suggested the advisability of postponing consideration of the bill until its Contents were known. The Minister had promised to give amplo time for consideration of its provisions by tho parties interested after it is introduced and the Counties' Association was meantime, itself, waiting its appearance for the pur- ' pose of considering itis provisions. It was decided to " receive" tha letter. PROVISION FOB LOANS, GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT. [BT TELEGBAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J TE KUrn. Saturday. , The Waitomo County Council met yesterday. In response to the resolution of the council urging line Government"" to ' make provision for loans to local bodies i to enable them to carry out their part of . the main highways scheme and other works, replies were received from twelve county councils advising that they had 1 carried resolutions in support. Six councils replied that they Dad received the letter. The Horowhenua County Council 1 forwarded a circular on lines similar to 1 that of the Wai tomo Council. A letter 1 was received from the Minister for 1 Finance promising his careful considerai tion of the council's request.