TAXING THE MOTORIST

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14773, 12 October 1921, Page 7

TAXING THE MOTORIST

WISDOM OF GOOD ROADS. RESULTS IN CAR-RUNNING. At the last meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Dr. F. D. Pinfold gave some very interesting details regarding motor-car running anil the wisdom of taxing cur-owners to an extent which would provide for better roading facilities, while at the same time showing a' considerable saving to motoristsConsidering I lie amount or settlement in the Waikato, tTie roads were disgraceful, in Dr. Pinfold's opinion. While the local authorities agreed tlvU the roads should lie done, Uicy frankly admitted that they did not have the money. Well, they had to get it. and the motor-ear owner had to provide it. The present fee of 10s for permanent registration paid by motorists was ridiculously/small, and it was the speaker's object to show that the average motorist could pay up to £SO annually with beneficial results. For that purpose two cars, one worth £4OO and the other £7OO and each working on a basis of 7000 running miles per year, would show the following result:— £4OO Car: Interest £24; depreciation per annum £B3, paint per year £ls, tyres (six per year) £72, benzine £7O, oil £6 10s, repairs, etc. £25, insurance, £ls—£3lo 10s. £7OO Car: Interest £42, depreciation per annum £llß, paint per year £ls, tyres (6 per year) £72, benzine £7O, oil £6 10s, repairs £25, insurance £15 —£363 10s. \ '■ This showed a difference of 2d per mile between an expensive car and a cjieap car, mostly consisting of depreciation and interestThe items on which a saving should tie and would be effected by good roads were, speaking, of £7OO ear:— Instead of a six-year life giving 42,000 miles, there should be a 12-ycar life giving 84,000 miles, a saving of approximately £6O per annum. Tyres, instead of giving 5000 miles, should give 7500 miles (and had indeed on good roads given up to 15,000 miles), effecting a saving of £24 per annum. Benzine consumption, instead of being 20 miles to the gallon should be 24, effecting a saving of £l4. Repairs, which practically amounted to overhauling expenses only, should show a saving of £lO. The expenses of the £4OO car, after running 7000 miles are £3lO 10s a year, and those of'the £7OO car for a similar journey in the same period £363 10s, at IOJd and Is Old per car mile respectively. With good roads they could save money to the extent of £IOB per year and then pay their adequate share of road maintenance. The average car on these roads did not do more than 42,000 miles in the six years, which was the average life of a car over them at present, unless the renewal costs were unusually heavy. The figures, which were all within" honest and practical limits, Indicated that with a proper system of roading within a year of 7000 miles of car-running they'would reduce their costs over present-day charges by £IOB. This brought the mileage costs from Is OJd to Bsd. In other words, they would effect a saving o.f over £2 per week by having good roads, and would it not be, the speaker asked, a sound business proposition to pay, say £SO, and pocket the other £SB per annum? In this calculation he was not bringing in the question of time saved, of the comfort secured and of the extra safety in motoring afforded by good roads. They should ask the Government to tax motorists to a fair extent and get away from the patching system of roading that now obtained. Every time they patched the roads it was simply throwing good money after bad. Motorists should be made to pay what they were willing to pay—a figure to ensure good roads. Mr Ellwell pointed out that a not inconsiderable portion of lyre expense on cars was occasioned by the side drag through the speed at which they swung round the Corners.

Dr. Pinfold said that the proposed duty on tyres would not do enough to provide good roads. The chairman (Mr Parr) remarked that they should see the money was for the roads, and not for inclusion in the Consolidated Fund.

Mr Dillicar wanted to know where the heavy traffic came inMr Gilbert said that that could be controlled by the local bodies. Mr Kirk remarked that if the run'ning costs of a car came to half the figure Dr. Pinfold stated there would be very few people running cars.

Mr Staples said that D,r. Pinfold's points wore consistent in the aggregate and in the detail. While the shortage of money was always apparent, he thought that the want of a proper roadmaking system had more than anything to' do with the present position. Mr Gilbert, from his experience with a large company using many cars, considered that the figures given were pretty well right.

Dr. Pinfold said that the assessment was on cars doing at least 20 miles dav in and day out-

Mr Dillicar could not agree with such a heavy tax as £SO, as the motorist was only a small proportion of roiciusers. The suggestions in the Bill before Parliament were in the nature- of gelling down to something solid to work on. lie had recently u-ivellod over 250 miles of Chnstihi iv,h roads with much less vibration [Uha would !e oco•'••i.'aj. .<>' r, joirruy to Wiiatawhata and back.

A hearty v6te of thanks was passed to Dr. Pinfold for his report, members remarking upon the time *and trouble gone to in its preparation and the value of the figures prepared. Copies of the report will' be forwarded to the conference, to the Motor Association, and to the associated Chambers. in connection with the Bill to come before Parliament, will be discussed by the executive of the Chamber and decisions framed in regard thereto.