HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16948, 10 November 1926, Page 8

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES.

THE RECENT DECISION. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? DISTINCT GAIN FOR HAMILTON. From tho recent decision of Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., on the apportionment of the heavy traffic license fees, it is difficult, -without knowledge of other facts, for the laymen to understand exactly how the apportionment works oul. It will bo remembered that following a series of conferences between local body representatives in the No. 2 Highways District, a practically unanimous decision was reached, Hamilton being one of the few dissentients. The decision of the conference whs that Ihe fees should be divided in the proportion of 50 per cent, melal roads and 50 per cent, capital value. The total fe«s collected in the area amounted to £3285. On this basis Hamilton would have received approximately £262, Waipa County £482, Raglan £4 30. Piako £322, Matamata £230, and Waikato £lB4. On the magisterial apportionment Hamilton will now receive 55 per cent, of Ihe fees actually collected by the borough (£991), or £546, and in addition a further share based on actual expenditure on maintenance, so that Hamilton's share should approximate £6OO. Waipa will receive 75 per cent, of amounts collected in that, county, £lB9, and a similar proportion in respect to maintenance of roads. Raglan will gel, £137, Piako £39.1, Matamata £174, and Waikato £179. As the judgment is operative for a period of three years, il will lie seen that Hamilton, has been a considerable gainer by reason of the decision.