REBATE ON RURAL RATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 3 November 1934, Page 15

REBATE ON RURAL RATES

“AT MOTORISTS’ EXPENSE” A STRONG PROTEST (Per Tress Association.) HAW-ERA, this day. A strong protest against the, proposed rebate of 12£ per cent, on.,.jural fates at the expense of motorist taxpayers was voiced by Mr. (! , W, . ,QC'Callaghan, president of the Norlli Island Motor l nion. After, questioning letters stating,that the large landowner needs the rebate to save him from disaster, in view of the good wool and lamb seasons and the wheat subsidy, Mr. O’Callaghan said: “We lire deeply concerned that the Government proposes .that this gift to country taxpayers, is to be a charge on motor taxpayers. Surely if one section of the electors is to receive State aid, the same should he a charge on the consolidated fund., or, in other yowls, oil all taxpayers. instead of one section—Hie already grossly over-taxed motor vehicles owner. “A reduction in the petrol lax, and consequently lower transport costs, would actually be of more real benefit to the Country ratepayers than the proposed tinkering with the road fund, and the Government does itself little credit in using the road fund for specious political purposes. In the last seven years the motorists have paid £28',000,000 in taxation, and as far as the union Is concerned we have lost all patience with a Government obviously entirely out,of sympathy <wilh the motorist and blind to the necessity for cheap transport. . , , v ., ~, “The automobile associations do not object to the rebate provided iliat. the Government is not generous at- (he expense of the.motor taxpayers.”