HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1932, Page 12

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

CHARGES FOR FARMERS’ LORRIES. EXEMPTION STRONGLY SUPPORTED The exemption from the payment of heavy traffic fees of heavy motor vehicles owned by farmers solely for the transport of the individual farmer’s produce and supplies' is unanimously favoured by members of the Inglewood Gouty Council. In reply to its inquiry, the Transport Department is to be notified accordingly. A letter from the department stated that the reasons advanced in favour of the exemption were- the small annual mileage of the farmer’s lorry compared with the commercial truck, and the fact that the farmer was already paying rates lor roading purposes. If the farmers had to continue to pay the fees their lorries would be replaced With horse-drawn vehicles, the steel tyres of which would do considerably more damage to dustless surfaced roads. The necessity for reducing farmers’ costs, as much as possible was another argument. In view of the fact that heavy traffic fees were collected and expended by road controlling authorities the Minister desired the council’s views before making a decision. The letter also pointed out that excluding passenger vehicles there were 12,000 trucks which paid heavy traffic fees of approximately £150,000 —farmers’ lorries £30,000, carriers £35,000, contractors £15,000, merchants £15,000 and miscellaneous £55,000. It would thus be seen that exemption would mean £30,000 less to local bodies for road maintenance, necessitating an increase of rates, while probably other sections such as market gardeners would also claim exemption. The chairman said that the council, as well as the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, had previously expressed its views on the subject, which were that farmers’ lorries should be exempted. According to the figures given farmers the lorries represented 20 per cent, of the fees collected, so the non-collection should not make much difference to local bodies, especially as they would be faced with the extra cost of maintenance of the tar-sealed road if farmers, especially in dairying districts, were forced to revert to horse-drawn vehicles. Cr. Willans considered that carriers should support the proposal to exempt farmers’ vehicles as that would confine the farmers’ lorries to the carting of their owners’ produce and supplies. If the farmers had to pay a heavy 1 traffic license every farmer would then be licensed as a carrier and would take steps to secure some other carting so as to recoup himself for the licensee fee. The resolution stated was then carried on the motion of the chairman and Cr. Laurence.