HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 14

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

FARMERS SEEK EXEMPTION .CONSIDERATION BY GOVERNMENT A suggestion that fanners' heavy motor vehicles used solely for tlio transport of the individual farmer's produce and supplies should be exempted from the payment of heavy traffic fees is under consideration Ly tho Government. Tlie grounds of tho proposal arc that the existing low prices for primary products have made it essential that costs should be reduced, and that if the fees were imposed many farmers would revert to horse-drawn vehicles, the metal tyres of which would bo harmful to surfaced roads. In view of the fact that the fees are collected and expended by tho local authorities controlling tlio roads, tho Government has decided to obtain tlio opinions of tlio interested bodies before corning to a decision A circular letter to local bodies from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. J. S. Hunter, states that, excluding passenger vehicles, tliero aro more than 12,000 trucks in New Zealand on which heavy traffic fees aro paid. Tho total amount payable was £150,000, made up as follows Carriers, £35,000; farmers, £30,000; contractors, £15,000; merchants, £15.000* miscellaneous, £55,000. "It will bo seen that if effect is given to tho representations made," tho circular continues, "the revenuo of local bodies for road maintenance purposes may bo reduced by £30,000, and this would mean that either rates would have to bo increased at the expense of all tho ratepayers to mako good tho amount, or the expenditure on road maintenance would have to be reduced by £30,000. "In view of tlio limited amount of money already available for this purpose, the second courso would be, most undesirable, and possibly impracticable. Another point which should be remembered is that if fanners receivo exemption from tlieso fees on account of tho small annual road mileago of their trucks, numerous other operators, such as market gardeners, will also claim exemption for tho same reason, and it appears that when once this fee is based on tho road usage, instead of on a ilat schedule, tho revenue from this taxation will bo seriously reduced." Tho proposal will bo placed before tho City Council at its next meeting. Several suburban local bodies have already considered (lie. matter anil have expressed <«'sapproval.