The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1924. THE MOTOR BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11933, 13 September 1924, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1924. THE MOTOR BILL

The Minister for Public Works complin mended the Leader of the Opposition on the reception given by him t'o his colleague’s Motor Vehicles Bill. Such amenities are pleasing, and we are glad, out of a long experience, to remember that they are not rare. Creditable they are to both sides of the compliment—the giver’s and the receiver’s. At the same time, we cannot refrain from remarking that the bill was not presented quite as it ought to have been, for the information had to be got by cross-examination which ought to have been’ supplied at the outset. For example, as to the number of vehicles expected to he covered by the operation of the measure, and the revenue to ,be annually received from their licensing. The information could only have been approximate, hut it ought to have been so given to enable the House to get some sort of grasp of the financial prospects of the new system. In this respect one is tempted to say that the bill got a better reception than it deserved. But in view of the good business-like reception of the bill all round, the temptation need lead ns no further, and, after all, the "information, to the best available ’ extent, was given, and the bill was very thoroughly considered. As to - the financial aspect, there can. under the conditions of motor development, be no certainty of detail, hut the rapid development towards a vast body of user is a good general proof that the success of the new system financially is apparently certain. This is well indeed, for it is high time for the problem of the motor vehicle to be taken in hand very firmly. The considerations in support of that conclusion are many. First there is the great question of the motor roads, and this is on a bad footing in one respect. As the Minister said during the debate, some of the local bodies build roads to carry four-ton lorries, and permit fifteen-tonners to break them to pieces. The bill is needed for the protection of the very difficult finance of the roading problem. Then there are the racing and record-breaking practices which might he winked at when traffic is small, but when traffic grows as the present traffic is growing these things must be stopped, and the sellers of fast cars compelled to find some ether method of advertising their wares. Look at the appalling number of accidents in the United States I Other points there are, but, as all motorists know their number and their importance, and the great hulk of them desire only what is right, not seeking any privilege to do wrong, nothing more need he said, except that' the need for this measure stands fully demonstrated. The thing is new, and experience will very quickly show how the measure can be made more perfect) Jußt now the important point is io get the measure going, with the strong arm of the law behind it. Even at present it-may be improved after passing through the special revising committee to which it has, after the second reading, been referred. The temper of the House about the measure is business-like on every bench, and much may be expected. The fundamental principle of such a measure hi, as was universally admitted during the debate, payment of taxation according to user. The tendency in America is towards a petrol j

tax. This measure relies largely on tyres and licenses. In any case, there must be licenses, for the sake of the control which is absolutely necessary. Anomalies were pointed out, much of -the nature of some anomalies in the income taxation. These, it was contended, were to some extent balanced by the tyre side of the account. Experience will show how this balance works, and how it can be improved. But it is beyond doubt that the taxation of petrol is the fairest, and before long there may be a unanimous demand for it, especially as the tyre impost can be dodged by manufacturing enterprise. After .the measure is going, all this will become clearer. As to the provision for the control of local methods of roadmaking and user, we trust the good sense of all concerned will give, full force to that. It is certainly imperative that the user must be according to the character of the road, for otherwise the money: raised for roads will he wasted, and rates will be all the ratepayers have to show for the roads for which they voted the loans. A very important point was raised affecting certain local bodies. It is a very old point, dating, in its pressure, from the first days of local government. The difficulty of those local bodies in remote or sparsely inhabited districts has always been the construction and maintenance ef adequate roads. And it was found necessary from the first to help them. The necessity still exists and, though roads hare become more expensive, cannot be ignored, for communication which is essential to baekblock life must he provided and maintained. Moreover, help thus given must, by assisting development, cure the evil for which it is but a temporary remedy. The duty, therefore, of extending a helping hand must be recognised, especially as, by the general improvement it effects, it can be regarded as a good invests ment.