MAIN HIGHWAYS DISCUSSED BY PROGRESS LEAGUES,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 4

MAIN HIGHWAYS DISCUSSED BY PROGRESS LEAGUES,

Various proposals in connection with the main highways of the South Island were discussed at the conference of progress leagues held in Christchurch yesterday.

On behalf of the Canterbury League, Mr J. A. Flesher moved—“ That in the opinion of this conference the apportionment between the North and South Islands of expenditure from the revenue fund of the Main Highways Board should be proportionate to the number of motor vehicles registered in each island, and the Act should be amended making it mandatory on the board to apportion the moneys accordingly.”

Mr Flesher said that at the present time the Main Highways Board had certain discretionary powers. The object of the remit was to make it absolute and mandatory that the board must divide the revenue according to the number of vehicles in each island. It behoved them to see to it that money subscribed for a certain purpose should not be diverted into other channels. They did not want to be put in the position of having the money subscribed for roads in the South Island taken away from them and used for the North Island roads. Mr G. Maginness (Canterbury) seconded the motion. lie said that with regard to the construction fund the Government had its own ideas. The remit was adopted.

TAXATION AND SUBSIDIES. Mr S. B. Macdonald (Otago) moved the adoption of the following remits:—

uest T d at t the llie . hwa^s Board be recounty councils for the maintenance or construction of declared highways when such highways pass through low-rated or difficult country, and that such roads be declared Government roads.

2. That it should be the mandatory duty o f the Highways Board to extend each year by including not less than* a 5 per cent ratio to the already declared main highways in each county, thus in tirfie entirely abolishing secondary roads.

3. That a policy of standardised construction or reconstruction of main highways be evolved, and that a special road loan be raised to carry such con-

struction and reconstruction into effect, the interest of such loan to he guaranteed from the revenue derived from motor taxation and to bear not less than 3 per cent sinking fund.

4. That the tyre tax and the. annual motor-car tax be abolished and a tax on motor spirit without exemption be imposed therefor. 5. That the Hi eh ways Act he amended to give direct representation on tlie Highways Board to the motor owners of the South Island as represented by the South Island Motor Union.

Referring to clause 1, Mr Macdonald said that the object was to assist poor counties to provide good roads. Ijc considered that the rate of subsidy in such cases should be at least £3 to £l. In regard to clause 2, the object was to gradually eliminate secondary roads in the Dominion. lie contended that while the main roads were their primary consideration the secondary roads also should receive attention. Clause 3 was aimed at keeping the construction fund separate from the revenue fund. The board already had power to borrow money for construction. PETROL TAX. “ Clause 4 is one I commend strongly for your consideration,” said Mr Macdonald. He said that at present there was taxation by means of Customs i duty on tyres, and also an annual tax levied on owners of vehicles, lie did not advocate abolishing the heavy vehicle tax. but considered that the annual motor-car tax and the tyre tax should be abolished and replaced by a petrol tax. lie maintained that the tyre tax was not fair because motorists using bad roads wore out their tyres much sooner than those using good roads. In 192 G 41,817,612 gallons of motor spirit was imported into the Dominion, and his league advocated a tax of 3d a gallon, collected through the C ustoms Department. That would realise £560.220, as against the motor-car tax in 1926, of £228,000 and the tyre tax in 192 G, of £140,514, a total of £3G5,514. Further, a petrol tax would be much cheaper to collect than the present taxes. The Otago Expansion League stood firmly in favour of two highways boards for New Zealand—one for the North Island and one for the South Island. At present the Highways Board was practically a North Island board. A delegate: A Government board. Mr Macdonald said that the board was composed almost entirely of North Island men who were not conversant with conditions in the South Island. Mr Maginness supported the remit. Regarding the proposed petrol tax. he thought that that would meet with disapproval of farmers using petroldriven milking machines. Exemptions should be as few as possible, but if it was deemed advisable to make any exemptions that could be done without great difficulty. Mr W. Alexander said that the remit moved by Mr Macdonald would meet with the support of the Southland Mr W. T. Churchward (Marlborough) asked whether a petrol tax would be as good as a horse-power tax. Air P. R. Climie said that the horsepower tax was very unsatisfactory. A tyre tax or a petrol tax was a tax on use and was a much fairer svstem. Mr O. Randle (Grey) said that many people used petrol engines who did not own motor-cars. It would go hard with them if they had to pay the tax. Mr G. E. Parsons (South Marlborough) said that owners of motorboats would be penalised if they could not get exemptions. Mr Macdonald said he did not agree with any exemptions from a petrol tax if it were adopted. The farmers and the fishermen were just as interested in good roads as the motorists because of the importance of good roads in getting their products to the markets. Tie did not agree with the horse power tax levied in England. The clauses in the remit were voted on separately. Clauses, 1,2, 3 and* 5 were carried unanimously. Clause 4. dealing with the petrol tax, was carried, Mr Parsons dissenting. WEST COAST ROADS. Mr T. H. Darkness (Buller) moved: “ That this meeting of South Island Progress Leagues urges upon the Government the early completion of the Westport and Grcymouth coastal road.” Mr Climie seconded the motion. He read a letter from the Canterbury Automobile Association supporting tiic completion of the read so as to open up tourist country and shorten the distance between Grcymouth and Westport. The remit was adopted. Mr W. T. Churchward (Blenheim) moved: “That this conference s;,,,m;b' urges the completion of the West Coast road from Blenheim t«> Westport, via Top House, before tlie coming summer, upon the ground that it should be a main highway.” The remit was adopted after several delegates had spoken m its support. On the motion of Dr Icichelmann (Westland), the following remits «-m----adopted. “That the ( antrrburv-W->1 Coast Road, via Bealev. be maintain d in good order for vehicle trafli as a necessary alternative in care r.f railwav breakdown or blockage.” "That to facilitate the development ~,f South Westland, anti in view of tp c railway terminating at R° ss > ‘t L

essential that the Main South Road to Bruce Bay be widened and improved generally for better transport facilities for the settlers residing in the far south.”