“USERS MUST PAY."

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18947, 17 May 1933, Page 8

“USERS MUST PAY."

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.

INCREASED PETROL TAX MOOTED.

DERATING FARM LANDS URGED

“That, this representative meeting of ratepayers of Franklin and surrounding counties demands the abolition of the present system of rating for roading purposes and calls upon all county councils to bring united pressure to bear cn the Government immediately to derate agricultural lands and institute a system based on the principle that the users pay. T ’

The foregoing resolution was passed at a large meeting of ratepayers held in Pukekohe, when the question of derating all agricultural lands was discussed.

Mr. J. H. Furniss, <ot Huntly, claimed that the present system was inequitable and undemocratic —inequitable because it placed a burden on a particular section of the community, and undemocratic because it was class taxation. It was also illogical. The roads were public roads and as such were used by the public and were or should be on the same footing as the railways. Both the railways and roads were social services, and a means of transport, and from the point cf view of logic there was no difference between them. The roads supplemented the railways and acted as feeders. Land owners had accepted without any apparent justification a system which compelled them be pay rates to maintain and construct roads. ■ The cost of railway construction and maintenance was paid by the user and if there was any deficiency In accounts, such deficiency was made up out of the Consolidated Fund. There was absolutely no difference in the essence of asking land owners to pay for the roads, and In asking land owners to pay for the railway line which passed their respective properties. The day of the road for local traffic had gone and he was of the opinion that no logical reason could be given to justify the present antiquated system of rating.

“I stand for Derating.”

U I and my colleagues of the Farmers’ Union stand for the total derating of agricultural lands. We stand for the principle that the user should pay, and when we stand for such principles we cannot be accused of standing for repudiation. There is no word of repudiation in the axiom “the user should pay,’ but if you said the user should not pay then there would be some justification for the use of the expression,” declared Mr Fumiss.

“As the number of able-to-pay ratepayers decreased the burden on those who. had a little equity in their holdings would be increased and in a short time the end of them would be in sight. “Some people say we are embarrassing the Government, but I would like to know which is the better —to have an embarrassed Government or a bankrupt farming community and no roads? In my opinion it is better to act now and embarrass the Government and get derating, than to have national bankruptcy and no roads.,’’ concluded Mr Furniss. Mr D. S. Reid, M.P. said that in Parliament some seven or eight years ago he advocated derating. A tax of 4d a gallon was imposed on petrol and he endeavoured to have it increased to 6d. This action, he considered, was the commencement of derating. It would be unwise to advocate total derating; a little should be asked for at a time-. If people did not pledge themselves for special rales they would be unable to get their roads metalled. The principle of derating—making the user of the road pay—was correct, and would be good for the man who was paying his rates ■but not so far the one who was unable to pay. Derating and the imposing of a petrol tax would mean the paying of rates (petrol tax) before travelling on the roads. “When I go down to Parliament I am going to try to get another petrol tax put on,” continued Mr Reid. Mr Stewart made it clear that he was opposed to the issuing of any threats to the Government to attain the objective. The Government had given the question of rating serious consideration and he believed something could be done next year to assist the farming community.

An Advocate of Partial Derating

Mr J. N. Massey, M.P. stated that he had always advocated the partial derating of farm lands. He believed a tax would have to be placed on. petrol if the whole burden was to be carried, and the vanishing point had to be considered. It was well known that the sales of petrol decreased when the Government placed a tax on this commodity for revenue purposes. As it was, the oil companies were carrying the extra tax, and it was possible that they might be prepared to carry more. He contended the users should pay for maintenance, but it had to be realised that the farmers 'received some benefits from roads.

Mr Massey could see no reason why the 'Counties’ Association and the Farmers’ Union should not come together and recommend the Government. to make enquiries into costs and charges in connection with rating. If the principle of the users paying for roads was adopted, it must not be forgotten that the motorist was not the only use-; cattle and sheep also caused damage to roads. The Farmers’ Union, said Mr W. Boyd, of Matangi, for the last three or four years, had consistently Sclvoeated total derating of farm lands. Moto” transport had increased at an alarming rate and had been the means of destroying roads for the construction of which the- farmers had specially rated themselves. If derating came about it would apply to the general and the whole of the special rates.

“If petrol is the basis of the tax to bring about derating, a tax of approximately is per gallon will be sufficient to totally derate rural and urban lands, that is on the basis of last year's petrol consumption,” declared Mr Bovd. “I have always held that the Government had no right to tax pidn 1 for general revenue purposes. I hold that every penny extracted from the motorist by way of petrol and registration taxes should have been given for the relief.of the rural ratepaver. Had this been done I make boid to say that to-day we would have had total de-ating of farm lands,” stated the speaker. .

XGQnUnu?d In nest column.}

“Under no circumstances would I borrow mtney to pay my rates. If you arc prepared to put up with existing conditions, well God help you. If not then you should stick together and protest to you- representatives on the county council and if you cannot get satisfaction —” A voice: Kick them out. Mr Boyd: If you don’t then you must, blame yourselves. The resolution given above was later passed.