TAX ON PETROL.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16655, 21 November 1925, Page 4

TAX ON PETROL.

USE OF THE ROADS. The president of the Royal Automobile Club, Mr E. W. Cox, referring to the support given by the State Treasurer, Sir Alexander Peacock, to the proposal for a tax on petrol as a means of taxing motor vehicles, said that this had always been advocated by motoring bodies (says a Melbourne correspondent). The consumption of petrol, he said, bore an exact relationship to the use of roads by motorists. As far as stationary engines using petrol were concerned, there were only a few of them, and that difficulty could be got over somehow. The matter was under discussion at the conference of the Commonwealth Association of Automobile Organisations. On the motion of Cr Bean (Vic.), it was resolved that further action 'be taken to obtain traffic courts in the States, where they were not already in existence. Mr Bean said that this proposal had been necessitated by the most extraordinary decisions, and the abnormal penalties recently inflicted in traffic cases.

The sub-committee appointed to consider the question of uniformity in road signals, recommended that the basis of ail danger signs be a white triangle, with red lettering 2ft ('.in across the base, and lfl Gin high: that the type of danger is indicated by the words, “schools,” “danger,” “caution,” and “railway"; that local bodies be urged to confer with automobile bodies before placing signs and light-houses. These recommendations were adopted. It was also decided to urge the State and Federal authorities to post the names of all towns on State schools, police stations, and post offices.

Other Motions. After considerable discussion, it was decided that reports as to state of arterial roads he exchanged between the Staj.c bodies. On the motion of the secretary, Mr \V. 11. Christophcrson (S.A.), it was resolved: “That members he urged to keep the Commonwealth Association informed of all new legislation or other matters affecting motorists in their Slates, either enacted or projected, in order that information may be conveyed to all members without delay.” It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr McNeil (N.SAV.), that the Federal Government be requested to provide oidnancc survey maps of inler-Stalc arterial roads. On the motion of the chairman, Mr F. M. Young (S.A.) it was resolved to request constituent bodies to approach the various education authorities in their States to arrange lectures to sctiool children on the dangers of road traffic, and how to avoid them. Mr Bean (Vic.) moved: “That this conference offers the strongest objection to any attempt by the Federal Government to raise revenue by a tax on petrol, expect as an alternative to existing State taxation.” The motion was carried unanimously. Dr. Pockley (N.SAV.) said that the problem of taxation of motor vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles was one that would gradually be solved by the disappearance of the horse from the roads.

It was staled that a proposal had been made in South Australia for a State petrol tax, which the Government proposed should bo collected by the oil companies. There was a question as to the constitutionality of the measure, hut the Government was going ahead, and taking the risk. Mr McNeil (N.SAV.) objected to the imposition of purely revenue-produc-ing duties on motor parts which could not possibly be manufactured in Australia-