"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1930 THE TAX ON PETROL.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 8, 1 August 1930, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1930 THE TAX ON PETROL.

FROM all -over the Dominion eome protests from motidr ojganisa lions against the piop-os al to add furtlier to ike petrol tax, and meetings, to record opposition are being generally convened. This outburst would give tbe impression, that motor owners are too heavily mulcted to raise'the wind with which to fill the Dominion’s financial sails. But the average addition to the petrol bill of the private driver will he. about £2 IDs a year, and if be finds the impost oppressive he has his remedy in cutting down his mileage, while the proportionate increase to the commercial user will be almost negligible. So far as the principle is concerned, and doubtless the Associations will take their stand on principle, there is much justification for the (jovernment’s action. The opponents of the measure contend that the State has no right to utilise any portion of the tax to build up the Consolidated Fund, hut it seems merely just that the ear owner who demands the best --lads and whose use of the tiior- ■ ighfares renders their mainten-

mc*o so rosily sliould provide :i ’"eat proportion of ilie expense, and equal!v just dial; petrol sliould eonf.riliute lo tlie Consolidated Fund l»v wav of (ax as oilier eoniinodiiies do. In (lie past (lie (.Government lias made M'i'ants tor road cons! ruc( ion and maintenance, hut under (lie stress of eireumsiances i( was found impossible to continue these grants in order (o relieve (he taxpayer of at least some of his burden. The money was un( in the coffers of the State, and therefore could not he expended. Kven now (he Consolidated Fund hears a heavy charge in tlie payment of interest on roadiny loans aimmidin.q |n £lB, 0(10,000. so (hal (he taxpayer is still maknio' a vcrv snhstandal eon (rilml ion. In add 1 1 ion, ! he (ioverumen( is itself doiniv a considerable amonnl of work on roads in relief of iinemoloymenf. 't he Crone M 111 1 I ev lets made i» ■)la in I hal as I he it»i)\'i"■•)i inel n has no lands on I of vine' l -o ran ( ome nr ■ •!>><■ n(s In 'hr \[ain •I i'" I nv;a- Ihni'l (1 '" "1 1 <M)ia I "-<> lo c„. a 1 1(1 r>| oo(, I lav is a e ■ • rI •> i | ■ n I ■ f l|i,> (in ■' n ■ f i ( I •’ r '>M 1 I hr 10. I ' ..lire \I I* li’aif'v ) ir,lr *))> 111 r V ia I I a iorJoi*. : i . 11,ir .c t . o :• m i ■ *i\' in ■ , |(r.;,. oia: a limns and rea I ise I ln< I ae| s,i

Mol or owners insist pit Tfiiod roads, not merely cm the bigt*wnys, hut also in the country. Whore formerly a cart track sufficed and ctay by-ways abounded, tliese no longer meet the requirements of the people, and gravel and macadam are demanded, and these cannot he provided without money. If the wherewithal is not forthcoming from those who use the thoroughfares, where is it to come from? Let those who demand its production, hut object to its provision find an alternative and satisfactory source.