THE MOTOR VEHICLES BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19258, 23 August 1924, Page 3

THE MOTOR VEHICLES BILL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin—Tho Motor Vehicles Bill at present before Parliament is an effort in the right direction, but its crudities may make it crumble before it reaches tho Statute Bock. A number of country local bodies are not enthusiastic over it. and many motorists fail to see that their £2 a year license fee could not bo better invested in petrol. ’fake a County Council and its road maintenance expenditure. The main road is only one of its roads. There are other important roads. Those other roads have also to be maintained. The Highways Board pay oncthird of the cost of upkeep of tho main road. Under tho old method that woujd bo a help, but the expenditure on the main road is to be increased. Ibis increase will be so much that tho new cost of upkeep will bo greater than the old expenditure on it. As the County Council has to find two-thirds of the increased expenditure the main road will bo more expensive than ever. Another item that has to he considered is that the county roadmen have to attend to tho other roads, and, while these other roads are being attended (o, the main road will be unattended. That has been one of (ho difficulties in hte past and it is not clear yet how the new departure is to eliminate it. If extra roadmen are to bo put on to attend to the main road only, then this means still further increased expenditure of which the county council has to find two-thirds. Then, take the motorists a-s a whole. What percentage of them use tho main road to any extent? Some do not use it at all. Yet everyone has to pay the same amount of license fee for the upkeep of the main road. County inspectors will toll you that it is the big high-powered cars that damage the roads. Yet tho small, low-power car has to pay the same license foe as tho big car. according to the Motor Vehicles Bill Is there an alternative? I suggest as an alternative that the Public Works Department take over tho main highways, maintenance and all. Tills would simplify matters for tho County Councils and at the same time ensure good roads. In regard to the motorists, substitute a tyre tax for a license fee. Then tho man who used the roads most would contribute most towards the upkeep of the road.—A more equitable proposition than that of making tho man who uses tho road least pay the maximum of upkeep. I am, etc., Flivver. August 21.