CHARGES WITHDRAWN

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1934, Page 3

CHARGES WITHDRAWN

CLIFTON FARM LORRIES LOCAL BODIES SEEK EXEMPTION. EARLY LEGISLATION EXPECTED. OBJECTIONS TO TRAFFIC FEES. The question of exemption of farmers’ lorries from heavy traffic fees was discussed at the quarterly meeting, of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association at Eltham yesterday. The matter arose from the threatened prosecution of farmers in Clifton county for carrying loads of milk in excess of two tons in weight. The Clifton county, in common with other county councils in No. 7 highways district, has not collected heavy traffic license fees for farmers’ lorries, as it considers such enforcement wrong in principle whilst horse-drawn milk waggons, which do more damage to the roads, are not required to be licensed. The Clifton County Council asked the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association to take up the matter and initiate efforts to obtain the exemption of farmers’ lorries from being licensed so long as such vehicles were used solely for the carrying of farm produce or material for agricultural purposes. It was desired that the association take the matter up with the Government, protesting against the enforcement of the law in its present form and promoting legislation that would exempt the farming community from further taxation in 1 The Clifton County Council considered that the farmers were not to blame because the, council itself refrained from collecting the license fees, and it was of the opinion that the association should have the opportunity of explaining the position from the farmers’ point of view before the Transport Department commenced legal proceedings against farmUS ' BILL PROPOSED. It was disclosed in tire discussion that the impending prosecutions instituted by the transport inspector had been withdrawn and that the Government proposed to bring in a Bill dealing with farmers’ lorries. It was resolved that the association ask for a draft of the Bill so that it could be discussed and recommendations made by the association before the Bill was brought up at the next session of Parliament. The chairman (Mr. J. B. Murdoch) explained that as a result of the transport inspector weighing farmers’ lorries in the Clifton county and threatening a prosecution of the owners the matter came before the association executive, and it was decided that he (the chairman) and Mr. H. A. Foreman should go to Wellington to interview Mr. CoaZ’S requesting that the prosecutions be withheld. He understood that since then informations had been laid. Mr. Foreman: They have now been withdrawn. Mr. Vaughan has received this intimation from Mr. Hunter, Commissioner of Transport. Although the cases were set down for this week they will not now be heard. The chairman said this made a material difference to the position. Mr. Coates said that there would probably be proposals before Cabinet in February, when something in the nature of a weight limit would be introduced, four tons being mentioned. If farmers carted produce for others that would have to be checked. They only wanted the right for farmers to cart their own produce and there would have to be some limit to competition against local carriers. MILEAGE BASIS. Mr. T. R. Anderson said he understood from the Commissioner of Transport that legislation was under consideration whereby farmers would be put on a mileage basis and allowed up to 3000 miles per annum, which was the average run by a farmer, whereas the carriers’ average was about 20,000 miles a year. Mr. W. C. Green objected to the taxation of farmers’ lorries. He pointed out that farmers using horse or bullockdrawn vehicles were not asked to pay a tax. He . referred to the various heavy taxes that were already being paid by motor vehicles and contended that if there was to be a heavy traffic tax it should be imposed on all vehicles, otherwise it was unjust. Some of his neighbours were carrying more milk in horse vehicles than he was in a motor-lorry, yet they would pay no tax. He considered they should not be dictated to by Mr. Hunter, who could not put up any argument for the tax except that of protecting carriers. They all agreed that carriers should be protected. He held that farmers should not give way in their resistance to the tax, and added that he would be prepared to fight it and go to court. Mr. Green suggested a rebate of the benzine tax if the heavy traffic license was going to be imposed on farmers, and added that the tax should be made to apply to all vehicles over a certain weight. Mr. Foreman said the position had changed somewhat as the cases against the Clifton farmers were not to be proceeded with. He agreed that if motor vehicles were to be taxed horse-drawn vehicles should be treated likewise. In his opinion the horse-drawn vehicle did more to damage the road than the motor vehicle. He would not go as far as to say there should be exemption from the petrol tax for farmers’ lorries because such might lend itself to abuse. Mr. Coates informed them the licensing of farm trucks was really more a matter for the Highways Board than the Transport Department. As the Highways Board members would be visiting Taranaki this week Mr. Foreman considered the matter should be brought before them by each local body. He asked why it could not be left to the discretion of local bodies to raise money by either a rate or a lorry tax. Personally he thought it fairer to raise the money by rate. SUPPORT WANTED. Mr. A. L. Campbell suggested asking the support of the Automobile Association towards exemption. Most farmers were members of the Automobile Association, which was a very active and useful organisation. He pointed out that after putting down a piece of road in tar-sealing the Eltham county was faced with the necessity of putting in a side track because the horses could not get up the hill. As a local body they wanted all milk for the factory to go in motorlorries. Mr. S. Vickers believed that the fairest method of taxation was by benzine tax, and then a farmer or user would pay in proportion to the extent he used the roads. It was admitted that if the amount required was not forthcoming from license fees it had to be met by K. cal body rates. The system he suggested would be a meter of the use of the roads by which a user would pay when he used the roads and would not pay if he did not use them. A carrier used tire roads all the year, but a farmer’s lorry was in the shed most of the time. The whole question of motor traffic was involved, and they should seriously consider whether it was right in principle. There was an anomaly, said Mr. Vickers, in regard to the present cases in Clifton because they were going to sue the farmers, who were told when they

went to the local body that it could not issue a license.

Mr. R. Stuart remarked that the association had agreed to exemption two years ago and said that point should be pushed now. Mr. Foreman said restrictions had been suggested of five miles for farmers’ lorries without a license, with a license necessary over that limit, but he pointed out that this would prevent the farmers in his district going to Smart Road works for a load of manure for their own farms. He considered the benzine tax was high enough at present. The chairman said local bodies had in their own by-laws power to impose a wheel tax on vehicles, but a motor tax alone created differential treatment. He suggested that the member for the district be asked to supply a copy of the Bill when it was drafted, and this could be considered with a view to making suggested amendments at a meeting prior to next session of Parliament. Till then they could do nothing more. In other parts of New Zealand produce was collected by carriers and the position was different to that in Taranaki, where there were more private lorries than in any other part of the Dominion. A motion on the lines suggested by the chairman was then carried. ; .