HEAVY TRAFFIC TAXES.

Wairarapa Age, 25 March 1929, Page 5

HEAVY TRAFFIC TAXES.

LORRY OWNERS INTERVIEW PREM, L HR. BELIEF TO BE RETROSPECTIVE. INVERCARGILL, March 23. This morning the Prime Minister (Sir J. Ward) received a large deputation. from the lorry owners of Southland who asked what relief lorry owners might expect to receive from taxation. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Government was working towards the end of relieving this taxation, but he could not give an indication of how much relief would be given or what shape it would take till he had gone into the financial position of the Country, and in any case the matter would have to go before Parliament. In connection with the National Transport Advisory Board, he would, like to stress the fact that this Board had nothing whatever to do with, administration. Its functions were purely advisory. Administration would have to be carried on by the Minister in charge and the permanent head of the Department. The Advisory Board which ihad been set up was expected merely ‘to give advice on technical matters to the permanent Transport Board. He would like to say further tihat he had no intention to so increase the personnel of the Advisory Board that it would be unwieldly, as would be the ease if he yielded to the suggestion of many who desired that every section of the industry should be represented. To make the board too large would only be to defeat the purpose for which, it was formed, and with a large membership it would take too long to reach decisions, which would in any case be majority decisions. The Government was anxious to give effect to what it had indicated publicly as a matter of policy in connection with motor taxation, but a decision, could not be arrivad at by him as Finance Minister till he had examined the position of the country and this decision must then go before Parliament. They could, however, rest assured that whatever alterations were made would be retrospective, dating'bock to the commencement of the new financial year on April I.—(P.A.).