THE MOTOR-CAR TAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 13

THE MOTOR-CAR TAX.

INDIGNATION OF OWNERS.

" INIQUITOUS BY-LAW."

PROTEST TO BE MADE.

VIEWS OF CAR OWNERS.

The statement of the Mayor, Sir James Gunson, to the effect that the revised heavy traffic by-law, which is to come into force on January 1, would embrace private cars as well as commercial vehicles, has aroused much indignation among heavy-car owners and car importers. The general opinion is that the new by-law is iniquitous, unrersonablo and absurd. A meeting of the executive of the Auckland Automobile Association is to be called at the earliest possible time

to decide the attitude to be taken in con

nection with the by-law. The subject was the chief topic of conversation among motorists on Saturday, and from wkaJ/ can be gathered they are not going to submit to the new tax without a stern struggle. Tax on Benzine Suggested. "This is a veritable bombshell, this new by-law, and I think it will tend to kill the big private car traffic stono dead," said Mr. J. Tombs, a car importer. "You see, this raajr only be the thin end of the wedge, and if this new by-law comes into force its effect may be far-reaching. If the City Council have the power to introduoo such a preposterous by-law what is there to prevent the county councils from doing likewise ? In my opinion the county councils- have a better right because they are poorer bodies, ai;d have larger stretches of road to maintain. The whole thing is monstrous and it all amounts to the fact that we motorists are being chased off the road."

Mr. Tombs said that motorists, generally speaking, were the best sports in the world and were most generous givers, but were not likely to submit to the unfairness of the new tax. He thought that the fairest tax would be one on benzine. "The whole thing has been so sudden," added Mr. Tombs. "Our firm has placed its orders for six months ahead and the outlook as you can see is none too good." "The Thing Is Ridiculous."

All the heavy-car owners and importers who were seen emphasised the point that with the new by-law owners of larae private cars would be placed on the same footing as th sse who made their livings from commercial vehicles, such as taxis and buses. "At the very most a private car-owner uses his car but twice a day—to and from his home to work," stated one prominent motorist. "Sometimes a spin is taken in the evening and at week-ends, but for the most part out of the city limits. And yet we are required to pay on the same scale as the man who is driving around the city streets all the day and earning his living. Why, the thing is ridiculous." "We are deriving no levenue from our cars, and in addition to paying ordinary taxes, income tax, and rates, this thing is imposed upon us," remarked another owner. "It will simply mean that some of ns at least will have to sell our cars." A more equitable and graduated scale of taxation was suggested as a solution to the problem. The scab adopted came in for some trenchant criticism. The only two divisions likely to affect private carowners are up to 30cwt., £12; and two tons, £25. "I cannot see why a difference of lOcwt. should make a difference of £13 in the payment," said another motorist. "It seems to me that those ■ who drew up the by-law. know nothing about cars or the problems of the carowner." Hundreds of Gaits Affected. It is estimated that there are several hundred private vehicles in Auckland that will come within the compass of the two-ton limit, and it is fully anticipated that by far the greater portion of their owners are antagonistic to the proposed by-law. The new scale of fees adopted by the council is as follows:—Up to 30cwt.. £12; two tons, £25; three tons, £37 10s'; four tons, £60; five tons or over, £75.