MOTOR TAXATION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 376, 18 March 1932, Page 7

MOTOR TAXATION.

Mr W. Machin Replies to Mr F. W. Johnston.

-A COMMON STATE PURSE. A reply to the remarks made by Mr F. W. Johnston, president of the South Island Motor Union, on the question of the disposal of motor taxation was made to-day by Mr W. Machin, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. “ The able lawyer who presides over the South Island Motor Union adorns every cause he advocates, and he even casts some little glamour over the poor and partial case he presents against the Economy Commission,” stated Mr Machin. “ I could endure my own deplorable ignorance of the facts, stated in his pleasant terms, if he proved it. His mild chastisement lor intrusion into the vested interest of motor taxation and highways finance is probably deserved, but it can be borne with meekness since he gives me my case in the main. Nobody disagrees with him in liking and wanting good highway* or in desiring to limit future expenditure on them to merely maintenance, with perhaps a little inexpensive construction, or in regretting the 4 absolutely chaotic’ conditions of the past, and wanting some settled programme for the future. “ I agree with him 4 that motorists as a claSs are bearing their full share. 4 but here we part company, for the Economy Commission wants them to bear 4 their full share of the burdens of the State.* They, however, wish their full share to be reserved for their special use and control, and to be the means of inducing the State to add more money than it can afford. I think the motorist is sufficiently heavily taxed, but his taxation should go into the common State purse and the State should decide how it shall spread its income in future over all service* —including roads. “ Cream Cake.” “ I gladly accept Mr F. W. Johnston’s comparison of the wheatgrower with the motorist. The wheat industry is literally, on every count, a daily bread business, worthy’ of every reasonable support, and giving back to the State the nourishment of vigorous industry’ in a hundred ways. Motoring, however, is cake—often cream cake — pleasant, even nourishing up to a point, and sometimes luxurious. It is in the main the outward and visible sign of ability to contribute more than the average to the needs of the State. It has proved itself capable of making a large contribution without much effort. It has successfully earmarked that contribution an dmore up to the present. Now the State needs it, and the cake must come on to the table for the whole family. 44 The wheat industry has been reviewed and its help from the State altered and rearranged and reduced almost annually’ for years. This is our democratic sy’stem of Government. Most disturbing sometimes, but the motorist cannot expect to be immune from it, especially in these days when every private interest and privilege must give way to the general welfare. The president's last paragraph is delicious! I have no dignity! And in his first paragraph I had no knowledge? ! ! But as the argument seems to be mine, what matters, so long as he does not report me again to the Associated Chambers of Commerce.”