Evening Post. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1889. THE KAIWARRA TOLLGATE

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 129, 1 June 1889, Page 2

Evening Post. SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1889. THE KAIWARRA TOLLGATE

The deputation which waited on the Premier yesterday in referenco to the removal of the Kaiwarra tollbar did not get mnoh satisfac tion. The Premier certainly expressed his sympathy with their object, but he flatly refused to render the assistance sought, on the ground that ho did not wish to interi'ero with the powers which the Provincial Government had given to the local body. Sir Harry Atkinson is not always so scrupulous in reviewing arrangements made by tho former Provincial Governments. There is no good reason why he should have any scruple about interfering in thyj case. The whole of tho surrounoing conditions have changed since this tollgate was established by authority of the Provincial Council. The construction of the two lines of railway leading out of Wellington has entirely revolutionised the circumstances of the case. Formerly all the land traffic between the East and West Coasts and interior districts and the city was intercepted by this tollgate. Every ono in the province who with horse or vehicle came into or went out of the city had to pay toll towards tho maintenance of the roads. Now, however, this is all changed. The greater part of the traffic is carried by rail, all that from or to a distance is so, and it is only those residents within a very limited radius, say, of seven or eight miles, who havo to use tho road and pay toll. Of thoso who do so a very large number aro residents in the city. Through this gate is in fact almost the only land exit from the city, and all who wish to have a ride or a drive in the country have to pay toll. It is monstrous that this should be so, and that a Connty Council should maintain a barrier almost at the boundary of the city, and demand toll from all who pass. In no other part of New Zealand would such a thing be permitted, and the inhabitants of the oity should join heartily with thoso suburban settlers who complain of the injnstice inflicted on them by the exactions of this toll. The extent of this injustice will be seen from the fact that, while the Hutt Connty Council baa to maintain the main roads to the top of the Rimutaka on one side, and to Waikanae on the other, almost the only funds at its disposal for this purpose aro the proceeds of this toll. These amount, we believe, to about .£2200 per annum, and it is estimated that of this sum about £1000 is contributed by Wellington residonts, who, on pleasuro or business bent, ride or drive past Kaiwarra. The remainder comes out of the pockets of the Bmall farmers, milkmen, market gardeners, &c, who live within such a distance of the city as enables thorn to bring their produce to market in their own vehicles. The whole of the cost of maintaining tho main roads of the County is thus practically borne by those who live within a few miles of the tollgate, and who use but a very small part of the roads. The settlers who, for local traffio, use the more distant parts of the roads, pay nothing whatever towards their maintenance. This is manifesty uniust. The roads should be maintained at the joint oost of all the property-holders, for whose benefit they exist. The only fair way of doing this would be by tho imposition of v general rate. It need not be a heavy one to make up the amount now raised at the toll bar. We notice that the County Council is inviting tenders for tho lease of the tollgate, for a period of two years. We wonld strongly advise the Council to insert in the conditions a clause providing that the lessee shall not be entitled— to compensation in the event of the toll being abolished daring tho currency of the lease. There oan, we think, be very little doubt that before two years are over the toll will be swept away and tho free use of the road established. Its existence is a. disgrace to Wellington, and we are confidont that if Mr. Izabd, who yesterday introduced the deputation to the Premier, would himself bring a Bill into the House to abolish the Kaiwarra tollgato, Parliament would readily pass it. Members are quite alive to the personal inconvenionce of its continued existence, and would have no hesitation in throwing the cost of maintaining the Hntt County roads on those who onghb to bear it— the Holdors of property. The Kaiwarra tollgate is ono of the last, if not the last, relio of an unsouiid system of providing for road maintenance existing in this colony, and the sooner it is swept away the better for the oredit of Wellington.