PAREMATA BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 10

PAREMATA BRIDGE

OBJECTIONS TO TOLL

ATTITUDE OF MOTORISTS

Support for the building of a bridge at Paremata with finance secured by a loan subsidised by the Highways Board was expressed by the executive of the Wellington Automobile Association last evening, and a statement setting out the association's attitude is to be issued for publication.

The chairman (Mr. E. A. Batt) said that the formation of the Taupo Riding Vigilance Committee had put an entirely new aspect on the matter. He outlined the action that had been taken in the past, and said that the executive should support the new proposal which arose out. of the offer of the Highways Board to subsidise .the building of the bridge. Motorists did not want a toll bridge at Paremata. The move that had been made meant support for either a reversion to, the toll* bridge or the Highways Fund bearing the whole of the cost, which was most unlikely. The motorists had no interest in the domestic side of the question, but they should oppose any move for a toll bridge.

Mr. H. W. Short said that he was not in favour of taking any action.

Mr. E. Palliser said the new scheme had been suggested by the motorists, and as the Highways Board had seen fit to adopt it the motorists should support the board.

Mr. Short said that if the ratepayers did not carry the poll on the 13th the advocates of the toll bridge would have to raise £18,000 instead of £7000. If they would not agree to £7000, they would not agree to £18,000.

Mr. Palliser said the poll already taken showed that the residents of the district wanted a bridge, and as the motorists did not want a toll bridge they should": support the highways proposal. "

The money to be provided by the Highways Board was coming out of taxation paid' by motorists, the chair-, man said, and the ratepayers evidently wanted the motorists to pay the whole of the cost. As the Government had been persuaded to approve of a tollbridge it was possible that sufficient pressure could be brought to bear to get the whole of the cost of the bridge. It was agreed that the executive should prepare a statement outlining its opposition to the toll bridge proposal and its support of the proposal agreed to by the Highways Board.