“USERS SHOULD PAY”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18530, 17 October 1934, Page 14

“USERS SHOULD PAY”

COUNTRY ROAD UPKEEP

FARM DERATING WANTED

The principle that the users of the roads should' be the ones to pay lor their maintenance was urged by Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in a statement he read to the Transport Co-ordination Board in Wellington. It was contended that there should be general derating of farm lands to take away from the farmers the full responsibility of the cost -of country roads which were being used largely by motorists from the towns. In the statement read by Mr. Poison, it was set out that in spite of attempts bv powerful and wealthy motorists’ organisations to create controversy on tho subject, the farmers of New Zealand were practically unanimous on the subject of derating. There was only a difference of opinion as to whether it should cover all rates or merely road maintenance rates with provision for new construction. A few county council members had expressed apprehension that it, migli. strike a blow at county control, but that was an entirely unfounded fear due to lack of knowledge of what was proposed. The principle was being more widely recognised among the countries of the world. It would be as just to ask the farmer to maintain the railways as to ask him to pay for the upkeep of the roads, the statement continued. In any case, all the evidence it had been possible to collect went to show that sft per cent, of automotive vehicles were owned and used by the rural and semi-rural community; that the farmer paid his share of motor taxation indirectly through petrol taxation ns well as paying for the upkeep of the roads on which other sections of the community ran their vehicles. Not only that, but as a proportion of motor transport running in the country served the farmer he paid through the enhanced cost of that service the petrol tax ou it as well. It was not reasonable that the farmer should pay double taxation and be compelled to maintain roads for a class of traffic which lie had no reason to contemplate when he constructed them and which added to his costs without assisting one whit in the convenience of his access either as a stock Tou-te or as a highway. The principle that the user should pav was sound. It was applicable to all other forms of transport, not only in New Zealand, but in the world. Was thero any reason why it should not be applied to road transport.? Having made and paid for the road, the settlers hoped for a steady tapering off of rating costs. In answer to a question, Mr. Poison said his personal view was that it was out of the question to expect derating to cover anything except rond maintenance rates. There was a section, however, chiefly from the north, which believed that derating should cover all rates. All ho was concerned about was the principle of derating. He did not suggest that rural ratepayers should be relieve! of making any contribution towards their roads. Their maintenance of the roads should be a charge upon the petrol taxation and highway finance.