DERATING AGAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18641, 20 May 1932, Page 10

DERATING AGAIN.

BURDEN ON FARMERS. EFFECT OF BENZINE TAX. (Special Reporter.) AUCKLAND, TnuFsday." Reiteration of its claims for derating of all agricultural lands was made by the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union last even.ng. It was also decided to protest strongly against any revenue from petrol taxation'being devoted to any purpose ‘-ther than the construction and maintenance of roads. Mr A. McConaughy (Paparoa) spoke strongly against the present system of road financing, which he described as “utterly wasteful.” Mr Martin (Opotiki) pointed out that they would he inconsistent if the sinking fund and interest on past loans were not taken into account. Mr A. E. Robinson claimed that the roads belonged to the people and not to a certain class. At present farmers had to pay for roads they did not use. Men on backblock mud roads had to suffer by car depreciation and consequent extra bezine used as well as rates. These rates were used for highways they might never have seen. The nationalisation of main highways was once regarded as partial derating, it was now known how erroneous that idea was. Benzine taxation should be used not only for road construction purposes, but for paying off old loans on the roads.. A remit emphatically protesting against the proposed seizure by the Government of the Main Highways Board's funds was also carried. Mr F. Colbeck described such action as immoral and a glaring instance cf wrong taxation. Benzine users had to pay into a fund used for the mmoflt of the country as a whole.