WEAR ON MOTOR-CARS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 2

WEAR ON MOTOR-CARS

BADLY-SURFACED ROADS’ EFFECT. THE ANNUAL COST £1,000,000. i - It has been calculated by the Automobile Association (Wellington) that extra wear and tear on motor-cars due to the non-expenditure of motor tax money on the roads costs the motorcar owners of New Zealand £1,000,000 a year. Several speakers at the annual meeting of the association expressed dissatisfaction at the taxation position. The president, Sir Alexander Roberts, said it was estimated that the total motor taxes amounted to three million pounds, and of that nearly two millions was being transferred to purposes for which it had not been intended. Motorists realised that they must help the country in difficult times, but they were doing more than their share, and the diverting of two-thirds of the tax called for protest. The diversion of that money from roads resulted in their deterioration, which .in turn caused extra expense in running cars. The longer that money was kept from the roads the greater would be the wear and tear. In response to his request the secretary of the association had estimated what that extra wear and tear amounted to. He had figures which showed that it was at least one million a year to the motorists of New Zealand. That aspect of the position should be brought before the authorities in asking for a rediversion of the tax money. Replying to the discussion of the annual report, during which several members commented on the diversion of 'taxes from the roads, Mr. E. A. Batt, chairman of the committed, said that the Government took money from the motorists and then lent it back to them at interest. The Government, however, was not directly to blame for all the bad roads. In some cases the local bodies would not contribute their quota. The Main Highways Board was on the same side as the motorists, and some local bodies had been trying to wear down the motorists and the board. Although they could get a subsidy they were declining to do the work in the hope that the motorists and the board would pay the whole cost themselves. However, the Government was supreme in these matters. A member who spoke asked the committee to watch the movement for derating.