1 MAY 1926, Page 2

Next, Mr. Churchill. proposed to extend the McKenna dirties to

include commercial motor-cars, and to re-enact the Key Industries duties which otherwise would lapse this year. There is no need to add here to what is said in our first leading article about the so-called raid on the Road Fund, and the increased taxation of the heavier motor vehicles. But we must repeat our expression of satisfaction at Mr. Churchill's hope of being able to replace the existing methods of taxing motors with a tax on petrol. Sir Richard Redmayne, than whom there is no greater authority on the coal industry, when he was giving evidence before the Coal Commission recommended a tax on foreign motor fuel as a means of turning low-temperature carbonization from a doubtful commercial businesS to a proved commercial business. We fancy that Sir Richard Redmayne is in principle a Free Trader, but he saw that such a tax for a very important national purpose would be justified on its meritS; We 'heartily agree with him.

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