MOTOR TAXATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20484, 11 August 1928, Page 12

MOTOR TAXATION.

PROTEST FROM CARRIERS’ FEDERATION. INJUSTICE AND EXCESS ALLEGED. When it was first anriounced that the Government purposed imposing a petrol tax of 4d per gallon to secure revenue for highways construction and maintenance, one of the first protests heard was that of the New Zealand Master Carriers’ Federation. If any other body can claim priority in respect of an early outcry, there will be none that can lay claim to a more vigorous denunciation of the proposal than that which issued from the executive of this federation. It was contended then that any additional levies in respect to commercial motors would make the taxation excessive, and it was argued that since the cost of commercial motor traffic was indirectly, or in many cases directly borne by the general public, the question was one of communal importance. The federation w r as one of the bodies that suggested to the Government that a petrol tax should be imposed, but it was asked that this should be substituted for all existing taxation. This was not done, however, as the petrol tax was imposed as an additional burden instead of as an alternative one. Thus the dissatisfaction was born. Numerous representations were made to the Government that the tax was unjust and not in the interests of the community, but the protests fell on unsympathetic ears apparently, for no change has been made in the law.

The federation’s opposition to the existing taxation has now taken a more militant form, and the protests are being renewed. This time more stress is being laid upon the detrimental effect that the restriction of commercial motor traffic is likely to have on the public good, and the whole community is asked to co-operate in an endeavour to secure redress. It is claimed that the taxation per vehicle is unreasonable; that it is considerably greater than any other similar taxation anywhere in the British Empire; and that conditions imposed on owners of commercial vehicles, despite the fact that they are paying for a license to use the roads and also paying road taxation, are such that they merely aggravate the injustice they are called upon to endure. A 15-page bulletin published by the federation sets out the position as seen from that body’s standpoint and copies of these have been distributed throughout the country. Simultaneously with the bulletins petitions have been circulated for the purpose of getting all the signatures possible before the Government is presented with a special request to have the position reviewed in such a manner that commercial motor-vehicle owners will be able “to get a square deal.”