TAXATION OF MOTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19072, 17 July 1925, Page 10

TAXATION OF MOTORS.

PLEA MADE FOR CHANGE.

PRIME MINISTER FIRM.

REGULATING WEIGHT OF LOAD.

SETTLERS MUST BE PROTECTED.

[Br TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Regarding tho heavy traffic by-laws there is no chance of alteration. This was made clear by the Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates, to a deputation of mail contractors, which waited on him to-day to ask for some relief in respect of their contracts.

Mr. H. J. Knight took as his basis of afgument two taxis on a Mand. Ho said thai one of them with a load was not quite two tons, the other was over that weight. The second paid the heavy vehicle tax, but tho first, though only slightly under two tons, did not. He knew the Prime Minister would reply that " you must start somewhere." There were so many taxes that he thought that if the tax was put on tyres according to weight and not price the tax would be fairer and more equitable to everyone. The ordinary motor-vehicle tax of £3 was too heavy. If a properly-regulated tyre tax were brought into use not only would the very heavy vehicles be relieved but they would know that the other man was paying his share. They felt that the legislation in fofce was not equitable. It had been said that the legislation was on trial, and if it proved unsatisfactory an alteration would be made. Investigation Suggested. Continuing, Mr. Knight suggested that a committee be set up consisting of one representative from tho Department of Internal Affairs, one from the Customs Department, one from tho Public Works Department, any other expert whom the Government might select, and one representative each from the automobile associations, the Heavy Vehicle Owners' Association, arid any other sections of tho public which were interested. This committee should bring down a report on tho working of the tyre tax. The present tyro tax had been in force for three years and they knew that it had not brought in sufficient revenue to keep up tho roads. He felt that the committee would suggest a remedy for tho present trouble. The Prime Minister said he had not expected to have to dabble in the tyre tax question. They had had suggestions for tho last three or four years, but had received no additional information. Tho difficulty would be better overcome by a conference. Tho opinion of a committee would not reveal anything. There was no chance of the heavy traffic by-laws being altered and it was imperative that the Government take a decided stand. Responsibility for Roads. Local bodies had borrowed money and the settlers were responsible for the interest on that money up to 36 veys. Some of the settlers were really pavmg interest and sinking fund on roads which did not exist. The development of motor traffic had not been taken into consideration when the roads were laid down, and if the local people were asked to maintain the roads it would drive tho settlers off the land. The object of the heavy traffic by-laws was to make it possible, to regulate the weight of the load and the department must start somewhere, so it said straight away, "we will start at two tons." The law must stand at it was. He looked upon it as part of his policy in the interests of the farming community. Mr. R. L. Wigley (Mount Cook) suggested that" a tyre tax would cover everything. To this the Prime Minister replied that a tyre tax had not a possible chance of maintaining the roads. The department, he said, was trying to classify the roads according to weight of traffic. The users of the roads were being asked to pay for them and the heavy traffic bylaws were an attempt to place the responsibility on tha shoulders of those who used the roads most. Petrol Tax the Only Fair One. " In my opinion," continued the Prime Minister, " the tvrc ta:c is not fair; tho only fair one is the petrol tax, as it is the only method of correctly recording weight, speed and dista.nce. Petrol does not disappear unless it is used and rubber does."

The taxes would have to be simplified in the future, and at present information was being collected toward this end. When it was completed the whole question would go before the House, which would be asked to alter the legislation. He thankf-d the deputation for coming and said that nothing would be done without the knowledge of those concerned.