MOTOR LICENSE FEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 10

MOTOR LICENSE FEES.

POSITION OF NEWMARKET. NEED FOR A CONFERENCE. The basis upon which motor fees are distributed by the Auckland City Council, 'the licensing authority for the district between Mercer and Helensville, was discussed by the Newmarket Borough Council last evening. jft\e present basis is that of population. ' The deck, Mr. H. Wilson, said the council would be in a position to issue its own licenses next January. The City Council at present retained 15 per cent., collecting the fees one January and apportioning them the following January. It therefore had the use of the money during the whole year. If the borpugh collected its fees it would derive benefit from this percentage. Mr. G. E. Smerdon said it might cost the borough more to collect its own fees. It would have to employ inspectors for the work. ■ The Mayor, Mr. S. Donaldson, said that j if inspectors were not employed a coml petent man could testify to an appli-' cant's ability to drive. He suggested that a conference of local bodies should be held in order to exchange views. Mr. Wilson said it would be impossible for any conference to arrive at a mutual agreement. The views of different bodies were widely divergent. Certain local bodies would benefit by several thousands of pounds if the method of collection were altered, while many would lose by that amount, and they were not going to agree to a 'change. He judged that about 27 bodies were in favour of the basis being population and that 11 favoured valuation. The question of hospital levies- was also being brought into the question, it being advocated in some quarters that apportionment should be adduced by including both methods and reckoning on half* the population and half the capital value. - Members agreed. that it would be advisable to hold a conference as suggested. Mr. F. J. O'Meara said it was no use making deliberations at a conference and then taking the case to the City Council to be negatived by the quoting of an Act. That had occurred once before. In reply to a question the clerk said the borough fees collected on a computation of population amounted to £678, and on a valuation basis to £9OO. Mr, Smerdon said the question was important in that Newmarket's population was rather in danger of decreasing, as ! it was being occupied as a business area. It was decided to approach the Suburban Local Bodies' Association to convene a meeting of all interested in heavy traffic fees.