VIEWPOINT OP FARMERS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1929, Page 14

VIEWPOINT OP FARMERS

ALTERING SYSTEM OPPOSED COUNTRY RATEPAYERS’ INTERESTS. FACTORS IN MAINTENANCE. The South Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union wag addressed at Hawera yesterday by Mr. W. G. Walkley, secretary of the South Taranaki Automobile Association, concerning the effort he is organising on behalf° of the Motor Union to counteract attempts to alter the system of motor taxation. Mr. Walkley said the New Zealand Motor Union was organising opposition to the demand of the Master Carriers’ Federation for the abolition of the heavy traffic fees charged on motor lorries. It was admitted that heavy motor lorries, especially those travelling fast, did considerable damage to the roads, and for that reason the owners ’were required to pay special fees, graduated in proportion to the loads carried and the weight of the vehicles. The demand for the abolition, of these fees directly affected the farming community and county ratepayers. The heavy traffic fees last year produced a revenue of £250,000, and if the fees were abolished this sum would have to be found elsewhere, for the roads must be maintained. This would indicate that abolition of one class of fees would necessitate the increase of other taxation, and the private car-owner and the county and city ratepayers would suffer.

The owners of heavy vehicles were aiming at the complete abolition of heavy traffic fees, and they complained that they and other city and borough ratepayers were being bled to contribute to the upkeep of county roads which they did not use. Only that morning, said Mr. Walkley, a report had been published concerning a deputation of Hutt Valley produce growers, who had asked for relief from the taxation on heavy motor ve-' hides. The Minister of Transport had said he was with the reasonableness of the request and convinced that he would .have to do something to give relief before the end of the year. The Minister must not be left in doubt as to the wishes of motorists. NO QUESTION OF POLITICS. There was no question of politics in this matter so far as the motorists and the ratepayers were concerned, but they must present their views to Parliament. In the pre-election manifesto issued by the United Party it was stated that the owner of the commercial motor vehicle was being penalised and treated unfairly, but that statement, said Mr. Walkley, was based on a misconception. The opinion of county engineers throughout New Zealand was that the heavy traffic fees were necessary to pay the commercial owners’ share of the cost of roads. The engineers said heavy lorries undoubtedly damaged the road, extra capital cost was undertaken m order to make provision for the heavy traffic, and maintenance cost was increased. The engineers were ot the opinion that heavy traffic fees, graduated upwards, represented the most scientific system of making the heavy vehicle pay for the use of the roads. They also held that. if heavy traffic fees were not forthcoming it would not be possible to reduce maintenance costs. At the present time, Mr. Walkley continued, there was a petrol tax on all motorists of 4d a gallon, and it was suggested that an additional tax of lid a gallon should take the place of the heavy traffic fees, or, a« an alternative, that the country ratepayers should pay more rates. County councils last year had received the following sums, from heavy traffic fees: Eltham £426, Hawera £637, Waimate West £357, Egmont £351, and Stratford £619. These figures showed how severe the loss would be if the heavy traffic fees were abolished. The Government ahould be urged not to consider the abolition proposal. A suggestion made by the carriers was, Mr. Walkley continued, that the one-ton truck, which was a vehicle freely used by farmers, should be more heavily taxed to relieve the heavier vehicles. BURDEN UPON FARMERS. A ten-ton truck paid £75, but if this were reduced to £45 or £5O, the small truck would be asked to pay the difference. Farmers every year were substituting light trucks for horsed vehicles, and they should take precautions against the possible imposition of heavier taxation.

“This agitation for the reduction or abolition of heavy traffic fees,” added Mr, Walkley, “is entirely from the cities, and the country stands to lose a lot by it.” Mr. W. E. Carter remarked that the taxation had had the effect of reducing the number of heavy motor vehicles on the roads. If the taxation were reduced more lorries, and perhaps faster vehicles, would be employed, and the cost of the roads would become greater than ever.

Mr. Walkley said this was a good point. If the number of vehicles increased there would be more cutting of freights against the railways, which would mean a loss to the country in other directions. Mr. M. W. Barker moved that the executive give its strongest support to the efforts of the Motor Union to protect the interests of farmers and motorists. He said county ratepayers realised how greatly heavy lorries increased the cost of roads and bridges, and the owners of these vehicles should pay their share.

In seconding the motion Mr. Carter congratulated Mr. Walkley on the manner in which he had put his case to the meeting. The motion was carried, with the addition of a proviso that all provincial executives in the Dominion be asked to support it. Mr. Walkley was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.