The Protest Against the Budget Proposals.
Page 15
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IAIMEDIATELY after the Chancellor had made his Budget statement in the House of Commons, and it was known .that extra imposts upon commercial motors were being imposed, and that the Government intended to raid the Road Fund reserves and to allocate a portion of the annual revenue from motor duties to the National Exchequer, a meeting of the Standing Joint Committee of Mechanical Road Transport Associations was summoned under the chairmanship of Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Stnitb, and the following resolutions were adopted :
(1. That having regard to the bad condition of many roads and bridges throughout the country, it is impossible to approve the proposed . transfer to non-road purposes of £7,000,000 from the temporary cash balance in the Road Fund.
(2.) That no opinion be expressed on the proposed onethird appropriation in respect of taxation on private motorcars and motorcycles to meet general State requirements. (3.) That the proposed increases in many categories are excessive, having regard to the state of trade and industry.
(4.) That all lawful steps be taken in due course to notify the public that passenger fares and rates per ton above those which would otherwise have ruled will be rendered necessary by reason of such new taxes on road transport as may be eventually imposed under this year's Finance Act.
(5.) That the Government be asked to agree by way of amendment to the proposed new scale, and that the support or individual members of Parliament be sought for the following modifications :—
(a) Vehicles all the wheels of which are fitted with pneumatic or■cushion tyres, to be granted a rebate of one-third.
(b) Goods vehicles working solely upon town haulage within the boundaries of industrial urban areas, the local authorities of which concur, subject to appropriate bond and conditions guaranteeing limits of circulation, to pay existing rates.
(6.) That the matter of detail requests for improvements of the scale be reserved until the constituent bodies have been further consulted.