ROAD PROBLEMS
SIR.—I have just read Mr. Gordon Wilkins's article entitled 'Buy One But Don't Try To Park It,' in your issue dated October 22.
It should be a simple matter to calculate a reduction of the rates of Purchase Tax (currently more than 40 per ccnt, on a new car), petrol and licensing taxes which would be sufficient to stimulate a far greater demand for motor-cars and motoring than exists today in Britain, without any decrease in revenue to the Treasury. With the high rates of taxation applied to motoring there must be thousands of people who cannot afford to purchase private cars and are therefore reliant upon public transport for conveyance and recrea- tion.
If motoring taxes were to decrease, the motor-car industry would immediately sell more cars on the home market; this would lead to a reduction in the costs of motor-car production and therefore to the industry's ability to compete more readily in foreign markets. With regard to motoring amenities, a substantially larger motoring public in Britain would soon secure for itself better ' roads and parking space, so long overdue. It is high time that the Government pursued t more enlightened economic policy with regard to motor taxation.—Yours faithfully,
J. J. CHALDECOTt
Rietholzstrasse 17, Zollikerberk, Zurich
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