MAKE THE USERS PAY.

Wairarapa Age, 19 March 1925, Page 5

MAKE THE USERS PAY.

FLAT TAX ON MOTORS.

RIGOROUS OPPOSITION BY FARMERS’ UNION.

Considerable opposition to certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act was voiced at a meeting of the Masterton branch, of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, as the result of which resolutions arc to be forwarded to the Minister protesting against the flat rate.

Mr L. T. Daniell, who spoke at length, said the vital question was how to raise the tax with which to construct the highways. The Masterton County Council had carefully studied the position, having spent £lOO on an engineer’s report, and £l2O on traffic tallies. The first amount, he considered, was well spent, but the latter amount was wasted. The County had agreed that each riding should contribute to the cost of the highways running within their boundaries, and as the Upper Taueru received no benefit from a highway it was exempt from contribution. A huge bill was now facing the ridings, however, and the scheme had been brought to a halt. To illustrate the expenditure involved, the speaker mentioned that the Opaki Riding would be responsible for the highway from Masterton to Mt. Bruce—l3.fl miles —which at £3060 per mile meant a total of £40,000, 50 per cent of which would have to be found by ratepayers of the riding. The first impression of the Act was that the Government was giving the farmers 50 per cent for putting down a good surface through an essential route, but when it come to settling which were the essential routes these who had to foot the bill had no say in the matter. If it was a road for the use of the fanners with the ultimate aim of increasing production it was fair to suggest that the farmers should contribute their proportion, but it. was merely a national undertaking for a national use and the user'should be made to pay. The speaker contended that at least 70 per cent of the traffic passing over the main highways to-day was foreign traffic which should be made to pay 70 per cent of the cost.

Mr Daniell said he had learned unofficially that the Government was prepared to make a change to the benzine tax, if public opinion favoured that method, with a rebate to dairy farmers using internal combustion engines. He strongly advised those present not to be led to believe that the flat tax of £3 on motor cars was the final tax, for a lump tax would be adjusted to their land through county rates if the highways scheme as at present intended was alowed to proceed This 50 per cent contribution was an issue which, the farmer had not yet been inivted to discuss. If it was allowed to go unchallenged they would find that they wore unconsciously committing themselves to a heavy increase in their county rates. An apparent anomaly in the aet was brought to notice by Mr W. H. Buick, who stated that a farmer . owning a lorry which got on te the roads perhaps once a week, was taxed with a heavy traffic fee to the same extent as a carrier who used the roads continually. A Committee Proposed.

Mr T. R. Barrer agreed that there should Be some difference between the carrier and the farmer. Closely allied te the whole questiolFwas eheap transport, which the farmers could not afford to overlook. For 50 years the-fanners of the been taking the good from the soil and had been putting practically, nothing back, yet the cartage of top dressing manures made it almost prohibitive for the back country man to treat his land in this manner. They Bad probably overlooked the fact however, that with the lack of sufficient evidence from both sides—that was fee petrel tax and the tyre tax—they were hardly competent to deal with the matter and produce some concrete recommendation. He suggested therefore that a committee be set up to consider the position fully, gather the pros and eons, and then bring down a report. The speaker stressed the necessity of action in this direction, especially in view of the cleavage in opinion between such great minds as those of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways and Public Works.

The Chairman (Mr C. C. Jackson) considered the Act was clumsy and would require considerable revision. The meeting should frame a remit for tho Provincial Conference. A Resolution.

Mr Daniell moved “That this meet--1 ing is opposed to the principle of a flat tax on motor cars, and favours a benzine tax; that a proper tally be taken to determine between local and foreign traffic, and that the Main Highways Board find the cost equivalent to the percentage of foreign traffic.”

Mr Barrer agreed that the Government should determine that the people should pay for the roads in comparison with the use they made of them. Mr Murray Jackson opposed the flat tax, contending that it was absolutely wrong for a light car used but a few days a week to pay the same as a heavy car used continuously. He also thought that there would bo too many avenues of escape through the benzine tax, whereas with the tyre tax, as a man wore out the roads so would he wear out his tyres and thus be paying more proportionately. Mr Daniell, in reply, said the Government was prepared to take suggestions for the improvement of the Act, and, he believed, would accede to the benzine tax. The City people had learned the right way to build roads—by charging the Hutt road fee—and the country would have to do the same, even if it meant £3 or £4 per annum. Mr R. D. McKenzie said it was questionable if the country was in the financial position to carry out the

work. The scheme would have to be restricted.

Mr Watson (secretary) said he had learned that the Government wks prepared to amend the Act to suit public opinion.

Mr Barrer said this was another instance of a measure being passed and becoming law before anyone knew anything about it. It was a pity that the Dominion Executive had not a political committee to whom such contentious measures could be referred.

Mr Daniell’s motion was carried, and it was decided to send a copy to the Minister in charge of the Act, (the Hon. R. F. Bollard), the Hon. A. D. McLeod, and Mr G l . B. Sykes, and also to bring it before the Provincial Conference.

A remit, moved by Mr W. H. Buick, that the flat tax on farmers’ motor lorries be abolished, was also carried.