HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 5

HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES

DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUUk 13 .PRESENT BASIS EQUITABLE. The necessity for some more equitable distribution of the heavy traffic license fees among local bodies in Taranaki was stressed at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, members considering that under the present system. the county, did not get its fair share as compared with some other local bodies, particularly the Taranaki .County. Unless some more equitable system could be adopted it was suggested that a commission should be set up to define an equitable basis. The matter arose out of the reading of the minutes of the annual meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, where a remit had been submitted iby the Eltham .County Council asking that the system of distribution of heavy traffic fees be reviewed. The association passed a resolution agreeing that the system be reviewed and that the schedule submitted by the Eltham County Council- be distributed amopg local bodies, the matter to be considered by the local bodies and discussed at a meeting- to be held in July. The chairman (Cr. W. C. Green) said that he was satisfied that the council was not getting its equitable share of the heavy traffic license fees in proportion to the amount of heavy traffic that [passed over its roads and he agreed that there was good cause to ask for a revision. He did not want to take anything from the Taranaki County Council or the New Plymouth Borough council, - but nevertheless he did not think the Egmont Council was getting the amount it was entitled to. He recognised that the majority of heavy traffic licenses were taken out in New (Plymouth. That, of course, could hot (be overcome, but the Egmont County had to carry a great deal of the traffic from those vehicles. If the basis of allocation was not altered he thought the Egmont Council should collect the fees instead of asking the Opunake frown Board to do so. Replying to Mr. Collins the. chairman etated that under the present allocation the Taranaki Council receive £l4Bl find the New Plymouth Borough £797, [whilst the Egmont County Council received £352 and the Opunake Town Board £7O. Under the scheme proposed, by the Eltham County of allocation on a mileage plus valuation basis, the Taranaki County would deceive £843, the New Plymouth Borough Council £B3l, f£he Egmont County Council £522 and the Opunake Town Board £45. The chairman recognised that the majority of . motor-lorries and buses were licensed in New Plymouth, but [they travelled over the Egmont County roads. Even the borough heavy, bus travelled to dances in the county. There [therefore appeared neither sense* nor reason in the present basis of allocation. Mr. Young thought the council should ask for a commission to be set up to go into the whole matter. He did not know the present position. If a vehicle fwere licensed in New Plymouth, he tisked, did that entitle it to travel [through the Egmont County ? The chairman: Anywhere in New Zealand. -■ ' ■ Mr. Ybung: Then we are only getting the crumbs that fall from the table. Mr. Tosland considered that the council must be fair to Taranaki and New Plymouth and should allow them an iidditional 10 per cent., as their roads had to carry a lot of extraordinary [traffic due to produce being carted direct to the port and direct from New Plymouth to other districts. Otherwise 0 system based on mileage and capital lvalue would be more equitable than £he present system. The chairman said that he would like a lead as to whether they should conitinue the present system or revert to the capital -.-alue plus mileage basis. ■ In the course of further discussion it was made clear that councillors did not [think the New Plymouth Borough was receiving too much, but they believed [the Taranaki County Council .was. On the motion of Messrs Collins and [Young, it was resolved to support the Allocation of heavy traffic fees, on the and mileage basis or some inore equitable system of distribution, i>r failing that, that a commission will bo asked for.