PETROL TAX

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 11

PETROL TAX

AUSTRALIAN RUMOURS DENIAL OF INCREASE MOTORISTS* SCEPTICAL Referenco to the strong rumours prevalent in New South Wales regarding an increase in the petrol tax, as part of a programme of higher State taxation, was mado by two men of motor interests who were passengers by the Monterey from Sydney yesterday. "Although tlie rumours have been officially denied, just as they were in New Zealand, tho people seem to think they will get the extra petrol tax," said Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Automobile Association (Auckland), who returned from a three weeks' business trip to Sydney, "it is class taxation, which is very unpopular with tho motor user, but because it is so easily collected it has an immediate appeal to a Government"

The amount of increaso hinted at was 2d a gallon, according to Mr. W. G. Walkley, managing-director of the Australian Motorists' Petrol Company, Limited, who was a through passenger en route to Los Angeles. The present prices of petrol in Sydney were Is 9d and Is lOd a gallon, tho amount of tax being 7{d. "It is not a tax that is at all justified by logic," said Mr. Walkley. "The worst feature of it is that it is much too easily collected. That is why it was introduced in New Zealand, I feel sure, and now New South Wales seems to ho following your example."