MONEY SPENT IN VARIOUS WAYS

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 7

MONEY SPENT IN VARIOUS WAYS

FUNDS FROM MOTOR TAXATION USE OF WHOLE PROCEEDS FOR ROADS URGED (United Press Association) • ASHBURTON, June 24. At a conference of bodies interested in road paving held today, an advance copy of the report by Professor Tocker on motor taxation, to be presented at a conference in Christchurch on July 6, was distributed. Professor Tocker showed the distribution of taxation on motor spirit in 1936-37 to be as follows: Consolidated Fund (41d a gallon), £1,524,459; local authorities, £147,647; Main Highways Fund, £1,697,942. Total for highway purposes (6d a gallon), £1,845,489. Total for motor spirits tax yield (net), £3,370,048. The grand total for all motor taxation in 1936-37 was £5,384,019. This was made up as follows: Customs duties on motor-vehicles and parts, £985,992; tyre tax, £124,894; motor spirits tax (net), £3,370,048; registration fees etc., £493,626; heavy traffic fees, £268,000; drivers’ licences, £7200; mileage etc., £4159. Of this only £2,756,375 was spent on highways purposes, £2,581,644 going to the Consolidated Fund and being spent on the Government’s general purposes. The proceeds of the total motor taxation were spent as follows: Main Highways Act, £2,333,750; boroughs, £154,625; local bodies (heavy traffic fee), £268,000; total for highway purposes, £2,756,375. Total for Consolidated Fund, for general purposes, £2,591,644. It was suggested that the conference at Christchurch should urge that the whole net proceeds of motor spirit taxation, including the 4Jd a gallon now devoted to general purposes of the Government, be transferred to the Main Highways Account and expended for highway purposes.