A TOLL GATE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 14

A TOLL GATE.

* ESTABLISHMENT OPPOSED. \ DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. [THE PRESS Special Service.'J WELLINGTON, July 29. A proposal to erect ft toll-bridge across an arm of Porirua Harbour in order to give a more direct route between Paremata and Plimnierton and obviate tho eight-milo journey by the present route round the harbour was opposed by a deputation from the North Island Motor Union and Master Carriers' Federation which waited on the Acting-Minister for Public Works (Hon. O. E. Macmillan) to-day. Mr Macmillan told the deputation that he was not convinced that if the district wished to improve its access it should not have the right to ask users of the now route to pay for it. He emphasised that the use of the toll-bridgo would be quite optional. Mr 11. G. Dickie, M.P., in introducing the deputation, said motorists thought' they had disposed with the toll-gate idea in New Zealand for ever, and they wen? concerned that it should be revived. For that reason they strongly opposed the principle, quite apart from the local proposal.

Views of lotorists. Mr W. O'Caliaghan, president of the Motor Union, said tho Paremata-Plim-merton bridge scheme was not particularly concerning the union at tho moment. Its main concern was with tho apparent approval given by tho Minister to the toll-bridge system of financing highways. Some years ago tho motorists agreed to be taxed -for main highways purposes. Last year, owing to the difficulties facing the country, they agreed that the Government should have the benefit of the bulk of that taxation which went into the Consolidated Fund. Motorists were left with "a beggarly few hundred thousand to keep the roads in repair." All construction work had had to be stopped. Now, however, it was proposed to superimpose an additional form of taxation in the shape of a toll-bridge, and motorists using tho route would have to pay over and above tho present taxation. Mr E. A. Batt, president of the Wellington Automobile Association, said there -was no objection to the bridge at Paremata, for many advantages could be gained by constructing a traffic bridge there. ' They also were fully aware that the toll would bo optional in view of the alternative north route, but their objection remained to the principle of reintroducing tolls. The promoters of the bridge scheme *ia-l gono about their work in tho wrong way. They were largely composed of ratepayers, and their properties would increase in value if the new road and bridge were provided, but they were not prepared to undertake any special rating or taxation for the bridge. Any county in New Zealand would be justified in asking for toll-bridges if the argument being advanced for the Paremata bridge were accepted, for all districts were in financial difficulties and were unable to withstand extra rating.

"A Retrograde Step." Mr A. Grayson said he considered it would bo a very retrograde stop to reintroduce toll-gates into New Zealand. The fast-moving traffic of to-day was entirely different from tho horse-drawn vehicles of some years ago, and tollgates were impracticable as well as being in conflict with present day principles of highways finance. Tho tollgate principle was a viciouß one, and it was apt to grow to an unknown extent if admitted. Mr A. J. Curtis, president of the Carriers' Federation, said motor taxation was already so high that any additional system, of revenue-raising could not be tolerated. The toll-gate system would inflict additional demands, and they could not be afforded. The whole principle was dangerous, and might grow if "once permitted again. . Minister's Keply. I am afraid you have not convinced me that where a district is prepared to pledge itself to tho construction of a road and a bridge purely for access to that district it is not sound to give it the right of an optional charge on people who like to go -into the district," said tho Minister. Ho could not agree that there was a proposal to reintroduce the toll-gato system in New Zealand, nor that there was even a danger of that being done. If there were a proposal to introduce a toll-gate on a main highway whero a charge would bo compulsory he would bo among the first to oppose it, but the proposal affected a road that was not a main highway, and it affected a district which was merely seeking to provide better access to its area. There was a road already to tho district, and it would be quite optional for motorists to use the new bridge. (There was no Government money available to put into the sehenie at tho moment; although some could bo found for tho pavment of unemployed labour. The Public Works Department could provide nothing, and for the first timo in the history of tho countrv it might be found this year that the Estimates of this Department would this year be reduced almost to nothing at all. If the scheme was of anv value some other moans of financing it other than out of Government funds would havo to bo found. In any event, the proposal would provide better access to the district. Mr Batt said they objected strongly to tho principle. The Minister said ho spoko personally, for he could not interpret Mr Coatcs's viewpoint, but ho could see no objection to the proposal. The motorists of New Zealand had cause for complaint, for. he understood it would have taken only about £OO,OOO to construct tho highway on the level i . ute in the first place, whereas it had cost about £120,000 to go over, the Paekakariki hill. The question of a toll-bridge was not settled, and it had to be further considered before anything would bo done.