MOTOR TAXATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16474, 19 October 1927, Page 7

MOTOR TAXATION

LOCAL BODIES' POSITION

MEMBERS EXPRESS SURPRISE

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The most discussed section of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill dur- . ing its second reading discussion in the House last night was that proposal ing to deprive the Government's and • local bodies' vehicles of their exemption from taxation. Mr D. G. Sullivan expressed stir- '* prise at the Government removing ' from its own vehicles and these of local bodies the exemption from license I fees It could have increased its 'contribution to the main highways, ' find. The exemption for local bodies ! was quite reasonable because their j vehicles rarely went. Outsido their own aica, which was road'ed at the expense of their own ratepayers. i Just the reverse opinion was ox- ' pressed J.v Mr. A. Harris, who expressed pleasure that the Government 'had repented of an injustice which he had pointed out long ago. It. had allowed local bodies' motor omnibuses exemption from taxation, though they were used in competition agatnat pri-vately-owned vehicles wnich had to ! pay the tax. , ' Congratulations also came from Mi. JJ S S. Kvle, who said that local , bodies were' becoming very cnterpmI ing in competing against private firms with buses.and electric light service.: I'They should be taxed.. .' ,i h ■ The Minister of Public Works, the, i Hon. K. S. William*, in reply, stated, that there was no question that a , number of cars were being used under exemptions which had no right to >, e -o used. He would discuss with local I bodies the exemption of road-making ". machinery, but would make no. pro- , raise until the discussion had take ' ' place. He certainly would not hurry the Bill through.