UPKEEP OF HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 13

UPKEEP OF HIGHWAYS.

BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER.

EARLY RELIEF PROMISED. FARMERS AND MOTORING. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Ihe introduction of legislation this session designed to case the burden on rural communities for the maintenance of main highways was mentioned in the House this afternoon by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates. The Prime Minister said some recent remarks concerning the use of motor-cars by farmers had been misinterpreted. It had been said the free use of cars by the farmers was responsible for their present position. No doubt that was so to some extent, but it, was not the general rule. It was not possible for any Government to control the activities of the individual in the sense that it could say what he should and what he should not do. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt): And I hope you will not try to do so. Mr. Coates: It would be silly to attempt it, and I am afraid there is a bit too much of it as it is. The Prime Minister said it %vas well undexstood there were hundreds of instances where people had accepted under the time payment system liabiltiies which they were now finding difficulty in meeting. It was necessary to help the farmer, but the Government could not assist him to buy luxuries. The great burden on the farmer to-day was local rating, and generally speaking it was a heavier burden than any Government taxation. The taxation for the upkeep of the main highways was a case in point. The Act was a well-tbought out endeavour to obtain better roads, and it sought to place the cost of them on the people who used the highways. But one could not get away from the fact that the amount of taxnuon tor every car from all sources was only £3 a year, while the cost of maintaining the roads was £6 a car. The ratepayers had to find the money, which should be found by the users of the roads. Those who wanted better roads should be prepared to pay a greater proportion of the cost. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt): Do you not think the man whose property has been improved by the roads should contribute something ? Mr. Coates: He does so indirectly, because his property is valued afc a higher figure for rating purposes and rates seldom go down. Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua): Are you prepared to extend the highway system to the back blocks ? Mr. Coates replied that later on one of his colleagues would before the House a scheme which it was hoped would give satisfaction to all concerned. It was clear that if the farmer continued to be rated on his present scale he would be placed in a most difficult position. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei): Is that farmer entitled to a motor-car ? Mr. Coates: Yes. (Laughter.)! Mr. Glenn: Three of your Ministers say he is not. Mr. Coates: No.

Voices: Nonsense. Mr. Glenn: They said so in the House