PETROL-TAX SUBSIDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 6

PETROL-TAX SUBSIDY

ONE TREE HILL WANTS LARGER SHARE CONFERENCE SUGGESTED The One Tree Hill Road Board is of the opinion that 8 per cent, is n'ot a sufficient subsidy from the petrol tax. At a meeting presided over by Mr. If. B. Dobbie last evening, Mr. R. G. Clarke drew the attention of the lipard to the fact that the Mount Eden Borough Council was also urging an increased subsidy. “Of the tax collected, 92 per cent, goes to the Main Highways Board,” ho said. “If there are no more roads declared main highways, we shall receive no more benefits from the board.” Mr. Clarke urged also that One Tree Hill should be treated in the same manner as the boroughs. It was probable that thoae affected by the petrol tax would try to have the rate reduced under a new Minister, and Mount Eden, as the senior local body, should call a local body conference to discuss the whole affair. The chairman considered that boroughs and road boards should be paid a fare share of the tax direct, instead of by highways subsidy. The Main Highways Board advised that it had no authority to grant a retrospective increase in subsidising construction work, and that the board’s application in regard to Great South Road could not therefore be granted. In view of the possibility' of a new Government being in power, the board decided, on the motion of Mr. Dobbie, to defer consideration of tho question until its next meeting. Mr. S. Gray, returning officer for the transport board election, notified the board that an election to appoint two members to the transport board would be held in its office at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 10. The date for imposing 10 per cent, penalty on rates was fixed for January 31, being an extension of three weeks.