TOO MANY MOTOR TAXES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 9

TOO MANY MOTOR TAXES

SIMPLE SYSTEM DESIRED COLLECTING METHODS CRITICISED. EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL VIEW. INVESTIGATION BY THE BOARD. The Transport Co-ordination Board proposes to conduct an investigation into motor taxation, and it has been decided to invite the views of certain road and transport interests. This intimation was received yesterday by the Egmont County Council from tire New Zealand Counties’ Association, and the council was requested to furnish a concise expression of its views. Arrangements vvould be made to receive local body representations at a series of meetings to be held in October.

The main phases of taxation to be covered by the investigation included (1) heavy traffic license fees; (2) petrol tax; (3) tyre tax; (4) drivers’ licenses; (5) annual licenses; (6) customs duties on imported cars, parts, etc. It was desired that the council express its views under these headings as well as upon any other phase of motor taxation which might be regarded as of sufficient importance to place before the board.

The inquiry is being made in accordance with a direction from the Minister of Transport, and a synopsis of the vews of all county councils will be prepared and submitted to the Transport Department. “I am afraid this is a difficult problem,” said the chairman (Mr. W. C. Green). “I feel that all these taxes are all right except the annual license, which is all wrong. The whole of the amount required should be obtained from the petrol tax. There is no reason for all this multitude of taxes, and all moneys should come from one source. At present one does not know when one has paid all his fees and when he has not. I cannot see why the drivers’ license fees should be renewed annually. “PAYING FAR TOO MUCH.” “We have been paying far too much in petrol tax,” continued the chairman, ‘‘the reason being that the Government was compelled to get the revenue, and we agreed that under the. circumstances it was, a legitimate way .of getting it. It is an inconvenience to renew the annual license fees on Oars and the number plates.- This continual renewal is a costly business—and look at the staff it takes! We have the Customs and there is no need for all these tax-col-lecting agencies. It is a humbug having to wait for an hour trying to get into an office to get a miserable motor license. Often we are unable to get our plates although we have paid for them, and we are liable to prosecution if we use our cars without the plates.” Cr. Collins said he had met with a similar experience. Cr. Tosland said the Taranaki Local. Bodies’ Association should deal jointly with the question; with its support their proposals might be considered.

Cr. Willcox: There is no chance of cutting out the annual license. . Cr. Young referred to the • greater economy there would be if the tax were collected under one heading. • The chairman added: “I would put the collection of license fees in the hands of the local bodies and let them get .what they can collect. If we had few motorcars we would get little revenue;”. Cr. Young: Why should we collect taxes to hand over to others? Thousands of pounds are spent on motor plates, each year and half of .them are scarcely soiled. . ALL UNDER ONE HEADING. The chairman asked Cr. Tosland if he would move a motion. “I don’t feel disposed to do so,” he added. “We will have to write a long explanation about the whole thing. I move that the letter be received. The whole of the revenue should be collected under the headings of petrol tax, heavy traffic fees and tyre tax.” Cr. Tosland moved that the council make a recommendation to the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association that annual motor license fees be considerably reduced and the bulk of taxation be derived from the petrol tax. Cr. Willcox: I could not support that. In seconding Cr. Gibson considered motor taxation should be concentrated chiefly on the petrol tax, tyre tax and heavy traffic fee. He held that the annual motor registration fee should be drastically reduced, but he would not suggest that any more be put on petrol as there was enough being collected from that source already. Cr. Willcox: Are Crs. Gibson and Tosland going to formulate their proposals to put before the transport authorities and send them five copies? The chairman: I take it the department will reply and ask us to give evidence if required. The motion was carried.