REVENUE FROM LICENCES

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 6

REVENUE FROM LICENCES

GOVERNMENT’S NEW PROPOSALS PROTEST BY SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL A unanimous protest against the proposal of the Government to take away from county councils authority to issue motor drivers’ licences was made by members of the Southland County Council yesterday. A copy of the proposals for alterations in the method of issuing licences, received by the council from the Transport Department, stated that it was proposed to revise the system of traffic control so that, in future, cities and boroughs with a population exceeding 6000 would be responsible for their own enforcement as at present, and the Government would be responsible for the smaller centres and the rural areas. The proposal provided that the proceeds from the issue ot drivers’ licences would be distributed to those authorities responsible for the control of traffic —to the cities and larger boroughs—and to the Government. At present these licences are issued by the various local authorities. Issue By Registrars

It was proposed that from June 1, 1938, all drivers’ licences be issued by the deputy-registrars of motor-vehicles. This would mean that it would be possible to obtain a licence at 300 fulltime post offices throughout the Dominion. It was proposed that the fee would still be 5/- a licence, and from this amount a prescribed sum—6d had tentatively been agreed upon—would be retained by the Post and Telegraph Department to cover expenses. The residue would be allocated as follows:— (1) Forty per cent, of the cities and borough councils controlling their own areas, that is, those with a population exceeding 6000. This portion would be divided among the various councils in the proportions of their respective populations. (2) Sixty per cent, to the Consolidated Fund, towards the expenses of the Government in the smaller centres and rural areas.

These proportions were arrived at on the basis of the total amount of drivers’ licence fees collected by the various local bodies during the year ended March 31, 1936, it was stated. The total amount thus collected during that year was approximately £66,000, and it was expected that the figure for the current financial year would be £70,000. The proposals also referred to traffic fines. At present the proceeds from the fines resulting from prosecutions by the police and by the Government traffic officers were paid into the Main Highways account, it was stated. It was proposed as from May 31, 1938, to pay these into the Consolidated Fund towards the expense of Government traffic control. The proceeds from the fines resulting from prosecutions conducted by the city and larger borough traffic officers would continue to be paid into the accounts of the respective local bodies after deduction of five per cent, as at present. Loss To Southland County “It will mean that we will lose over £l5OO a year,” said the chairman (Mr F. F. Trapski), “and will be one of the things which will cause us.to put up our rates.” Cr J. McNeill said the council should, enter an emphatic protest against this latest interference with the county’s revenue. The authorities were making use of the argument that they were going to take over the control of traffic. “We control it quite well now, and I don’t think they will make a better job of it,” he said. Cr> G. Wraytt said it seemed as if the Government was taking away more than it was giving the county. He supported the protest. “They are taking away the only revenue we get out of the petrol tax for the maintenance of county roads,” declared Cr J. Dennis.

Cr T. Golden said the county would have to raise £l5OO a year extra from the ratepayers to make up the loss from the licences, and it would mean making an increase in the rates. Cr G. W. Whittingham suggested that the time was coming when the county would have to cease doing any new work. It would have to use the rates collected solely for maintenance work. There would be no money available for anything else. On the motion of Cr McNeill, it was decided to enter an emphatic protest against the proposals.