MOTOR TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 14

MOTOR TAXATION.

Sir .—ln tins modern and progressiva age ar'o up not sometimes a little too hasty in scrapping old-fashioned ideasand methods which may still be of considerable use ? I cannot see the fairness of trving to make the city taxi-drivers, car* riers and the large section of motorists who do practically all their _ motoring within city limits, pay a heavier benzine tax to relievo the rates on farms and country roads, when they are, already heavily taxed with their own city or suburban rates. Several of your correspondents say that those who use the roads should pay for them—certainly they should —but- why should city motorists, private and commercial, pay for the upkeep of roads they never use. and this - is where the old-fashioned method of collecting revenue by means of the toll gate comes in. Would it not be much fairer to all concerned to collect the tax from the actual users of the roads. It should be comparatively easy- to estimate the amount of revenue likely to be obtained by this means and it would certainly be satisfactory to know that thosa who actually used the roads contributed directly to their upkeep. The present tax, in addition to high city and suburoan rates, is quito heavy enough, and an increase in benzine tax would hit the man with moderate means very, hard, while the wealthv man would not notice it. June 13,' 1930. Big Bex,