MONEY FOR ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 17

MONEY FOR ROADS

GOVERNMENT'S PROMISE ATTITUDE TOWARD BOARD MOTORISTS' CONFIDENCE [by telkghath —owx correspondent] GISBORNE, Tuesday Addressing the annual meeting of the Gisboriic section of the Automobile Association, the president, Mr. A. Grayson. said that, in spite of the apparent slow progress being made with highways construction in this district, Gisborne's isolation had' been broken down by the building of highways. Roads had been built mainly out of the money provided by motorists, but he considered that, in view of all the circumstances, the money had been worth while. The Labour Government had promised prior to the elections to pay to the Highwavs Board al! the money collected from motorists by the petrol tax, said Mr. Grayson. If fulfilled, that promise would more than double the amount of funds available for main roads. The highways would have 6d a gallon of the petrol taxation spent on them instead of 2UI, a gallon as in the last three years. Mr. Grayson remarked with satisfaction that the Main Highways Board evidently commanded some respect from the Government, which had shown no disposition to abolish it. If any move were made to abolish the board, the Automobile Association would tako steps to fight it. There was some doubt whether the promise of one Government would bind another in respect of the reduction of the special emergency tax of 4d a gallon put 011 to petrol during the depression, and the association might have to do again all the work entailed in getting such a promise from the last Government. Discussing the legislative outlook, Mr. Grayson said he had no fear that the new Government would not meet the motorists fairly and squarely. If it did not, the motorists' organisations throughout New Zealand would take prompt steps to impress their views-on the Government. He thought that the success of the Automobile Association was due in a large measure to the moderation and fairness of the demands and views it had sponsored in the past. That moderation and fairness would be maintained in the future, and he did not think there was any need for concern regarding the relations of the association with' the new Government.