Govt stands firm on tolls

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 22

Govt stands firm on tolls

A boycott of the ChristchurchLyttelton road tunnel because of the Government’s refusal to abolish its tolls was suggested at a meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last night.

The suggestion was made by Cr G. C. Adams during discussion about the latest letter from the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) on the Government’s attitude towards the tunnel’s financing.

Mr Muldoon’s letter came in replv to a protest from the council about an earlier letter from him. in which he said the Government had no intention of removing tunnel tolls. tn his latest letter Mr Muldoon outlined the reasons why the Government had made its decision, but councillors were far from impressed.

Mr Adams described the letter as very disappointins, and suggested that if Lyttelton residents and port users boycotted the tunnel and used the Summit Road the Government would have no alternative but to take over full financial responsibility for the tunnel. Cr J. F. E. Crawford said the letter w as “about all that could be expected from politicians.”

It was not satisfactory, and did not come to grips with the basic question of why the port of Lvttelton should be saddled with the extra costs imposed on al goods passing through the port — costs bome by no other port. The council adooted Cr Crowfard’s suggestion that another letter be sent to Mr Muldoon expressing dissatisfaction with his reply. ROADS BOARD FUNDS Mr Muldoon said that the National Roads Board had made substantial contributions to the tunnel’s upkeep over the years — including an annual rent of $200,000

|and the full cost of approach I roads at both ends — contributions which so far amounted to about s3m.

Abolishing tolls would reduce working costs only 40 per cent. Charges of $390,000 a year plus loan repayments would still have to be’met—either by local or central government taxation. The council was reminded that the Government was engaged in "a massive exercise to cut Government spending.” Concluding on a more ominous note, Mr Muldoon said he noted that local authorities contributed directly to the upkeep of most roads and bridges within their areas. '•lt could be necessary to place the road tunnel on the same basis if tunnel tolls were abolished." he said.

Seccar.—lsrael beat Japan, 4-1, in their Olympic Asian Zone (roup C quality ing soccer match in Tel Aviv. clinching their place in the finals at Montreal in Julv.