PETROL TAX FUNDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 12

PETROL TAX FUNDS

PROMISE TO RATEPAYERS PROTEST BY COUNCIL The suggestion made by the deputation representing the Christchurch Tramway Board that waited on the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in Christchurch, that a portion of the money now accruing to the Christchurch City Council from the petrol tax (about £400) should be deflected to the Tramway Board for the maintenance of the strip of roadway lying between the double tram tracks, lias drawn a strong protest from the City Council. The doputy-Mayor, Mr. I). G. Sullivan, M.l’., pointed out that the council requires this money to pay interest and sinking fund on its £220,000 highwavs loan, and it was assured by the Hon. K. S. Williams, Mr. Ransom’s predecessor in office, that the sum would not be tampered with in any way. On the strength ytf Mr. William’s assurance, the ratepayers had been assured before the poll authorising the loan was taken, that there would be no rate imposed for the purpose of meeting the charges ot the loan, and on that understanding the ratepayers had authorised the loan. Hie position was that the Tramway Board had been endeavoring for the past year to induce the Government to deflect, a portion of the City Council’s share of the petrol tax into its own coffers. 11 the hoard would confine itself lo an endeavor to obtain a portion of the national sum derived from the petrol tax he would not be so seriously concerned.

Regarding the statement that the beard had on unassailable ease. Mr. Sullivan said lie was informed that it was in •accordance with world wide practice for tramway administrations to maintain at. their own cost the portion of loading between the tramway tracks, and IBin. on either side of the tracks, and if the board’s request were aeeeeded to it meant that Christchurch was to he put on a different footing.