BURDEN OF RATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20570, 22 May 1930, Page 15

BURDEN OF RATES.

FARMERS SEEK RELIEF.

INCREASED COST OF ROADS.

EXEMPTION FOR RURAL LANDS

[DI telegraph.—special REPORTER. ] \VHANGARF,I, Wednesday.

A claim for de rating all rural lands for tho reason that increased county rates for reading purposes imposed too great a burden on farmers was made at the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union Conference to-day. A remit was passed urging tho exemption of rural lands from all rates except tho hospital rate, tho rovsnue to bo made up by the imposition ofJhi increased petrol tax. Speakers sugted that tho levy on benzine should U [raised to lid or Is a gallon.

Tho president, Mr. A. A. Ross, moved the adoption of a remit from the executive. He said that tho traffic problem had thrown a tremendously heavy burden of rates on farmers. The problem had now arisen how tho position could bo altered The executive had carefully investigated tho wliolo question, and it had .been found that to abolish all county rates, except charitable relief, would entail a tax of il<i a gallon 011 benzine, i 10111 the revenue of this tax, cities and boroughs would be allowed the samo percentage as they were at present deriving from tho motor spirits tax. The question ol abolishing heavy traffic licence fees had also arisen, continued Mr. Ross, who said he thought it would bo fair Lo do this, because heavy vehicles would be paying largo sums owing to their heavy consumption of fuel. Tho petrol tax was a direct tax on those who used the roads in the proportion to the use thev made of the roads.

Mr. J. B. Jordan (Kaukapakapa) suggested that, the tigures given by Mr. Ross represented the limit required. Personally, he thought that the levy would be rather less than the amount stated.

Mr. C. S. Ganc (Tauranji) said that farmers had received nothing like their proper return from roads, when it was considered what they were paying for them. At present they were paying a dual tax, being forced to meet rates and also paying (lie benzine tax for use of their cars. The imposition of a higher levy would put motor transport on a fairer footing in competition with the railways. Motor vehicles were running on tracks which were practically free to them, and in competition with an expensive State undertaking. In reply to a question, the president said that in computing tho figures, allowance had been made for a possible shrinkago due to people using cars less frequently. Mr. F. Colbcck (Morrinsville) said farmers were paying for motor transport three times, in rates, in petrol tax, and in meeting the loss on the railways.

The only opposition to tho proposal came from Mr. J. Barclay (Northern Wairoa), who staled that the principle might be all right from the farmers' point of view "I think that wo are foolish if we do not look at the other side of the question," ho said. "I am frightened that wo arc putting up a target for every borough and city in the country to shoot at."

The remit was carried unanimously, Mr. Barclay being absent from the room when the voting took place.