MOTOR TAXATION

Southland Times, Issue 20201, 11 June 1927, Page 5

MOTOR TAXATION

BASIS OF ALLOCATION. The following remit was presented to the Southland Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday by the Pukerau branch — “That this conference considers that the money collected in motor taxation should be allotted to the various local bodies in proportion to the mileage of main highways.” Mr L. Woodfield said the remit was framed by his district’s county member, who thought the local bodies were quite capable of handling the money referred to. Mr Smith seconded the remit and asked for permission to withdraw the Wyndham remit on the same matter. There was certainly something wrong with the administration of the money concerned. He would suggest to the Pukerau branch that the remit be referred to the executive to confer with the County Council in an endeavour to arrive at an equitable remit for presentation to the Dominion Conference. There was. no doubt that the County Councils were the best body to determine in which direction the money should be spent. Mr E. Bowmar approved of the suggestion made by Mr Smith and stated that the Southland County Council desired that the money be distributed among the highways districts in proportion to the number of cars registered in the district. Mr Woodfield referred to the large amount of foreign traffic which passed through various districts and thought that this should be taken into consideration when the distribution was made. Mr Bowmar did not agree with this suggestion on the ground that it would be too intricate and unfair a system to institute and administer especially from the point of view of the smaller counties. The matter was referred to the executive with the recommendation that it confer with the Southland and Wallace County Councils on the lines suggested.