USERS SHOULD PAY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1934, Page 4

USERS SHOULD PAY

UPKEEP OF COUNTRY ROADS. FARM DERATING WANTED. The principle that the users of the roads should be the ones to pay for their maintenance was urged by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in a statement he read to the Transport Co-ordination Board at Wellington on Wednesday. It Was contended that there should be general derating of farm lands to take away from the farmers the full responsibility of the cost of countryi-roads, which were being used largely by motorists from the towns. In the statement read by Mr. Polson it was set out that in spite of attempts by powerful and wealthy motorists’ organisations to create controversy on the subject, the farmers of New Zealand were practically unanimous on the subject of derating. There was a difference of opinion only as to whether it should cover all rates or merely road maintenance rates with provision for new . construction. A few county council members had expressed apprehension that it might strike at county control, but that was an entirely unfounded fear due to lack of knowledge of what was proposed. The principle was being more widely recognised am -ng the countries Of the world.

It would be as just to ask the farmer to maintain the railways as to ask him to pay for the upkeep of the roads, the statement continued. In any case, all the evidence it had been possible to collect went to show that 50 per cent, of automotive vehicles were owned and used by the rural and semi-rural community; that the farmer paid his share of motor taxation as well as paying for the upkeep of the roads on which other sections of the community ran their vehicles. Not only that, but as a proportion of motor transport running in the country served the farmer he paid through the enhanced cost of that service the petrol tax on it as well. It was not reasonable that the farmer should pay double taxation dhd be compelled to maintain roads for a class of traffic which he had no reason to contemplate when he constructed them and which added to his costs without assisting one whit in the convenience of his access either as a stock route or as a highway. The principle that the user should pay was sound. It was applicable to all other forms of transport, not Only in New Zealand. Was there any reason why it should not be applied to road transport? Having made and paid for the road, the settlers hoped for a steady tapering off of rating costs. In answer to a question Mr. Polson said his personal view was that it was out of the question to expect derating to cover anything except road maintenance rates. There was a section, however, chiefly from the north, which believed that derating should cover all rates. All he was concerned about was the principle of derating. He did not suggest that rural ratepayers should be relieved of making any contribution toward their roads. Their maintenance of the roads should be a charge upon the petrol taxation and highway finance.