BUS V. RAILWAY

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 4

BUS V. RAILWAY

SUGGESTED TAXATION. “That special motor ’bus taxation be imposed on ’buses running in competition with the railways,” was the text of a remit forwarded to the Southland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union yesterday by the Lumsden branch. Mr. W. H. Ward stated that motor ’buses could not carry passengers at their present rates if they paid taxes in proportion to the damage they caused to the roads. It was manifestly fair that ’buses should pay a rate commensurate with the damage they caused. Mr. Martin opposed the motion. ’Buses, he said, gave a very convenient service to country residents and he asked if the Government was doing anything in the direction of meeting the convenience of country settlers. Mr. Smith also opposed the remit on the ground that it was the competition from the ’buses which had brought about increased railway efficiency during late years. Other speakers supported Mr. Martin’s remarks and Mr. D. Dickie expressed the consensus of opinion when he stated that the railways could not hope to give the same convenient service as did the ’buses. Mr. Bowmar said that many contended that the convenience of the ’bus services was worth the extra wear and tear on the roads, though as a member of the Southland County Council he did not consider motor ’bus owners were paying sufficient taxation to cover the wear and tear on the roads. Continuing, he stated that if the conference was desirous of doing something in the matter of increasing taxation on ’buses he suggested that the following wording be substituted for the Lumsden remit: “That the Government see that motor taxation is made adequate to pay for wear and tear on roads.” Mr. Ward re-iterated that the ’buses which wrought such havoc to the roads should pay at least a fair tax in respect of the damage caused. The remit was lost on the voices.