TOLL=GATES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 June 1924, Page 7

TOLL=GATES.

QUESTION OP ABOLITION. DECISION DEFERRED. HEAVY TRAFFIC CONTROL. (by telegraph—press association.! WELLINGTON, June 27. The Main Highways Board met this week. The question of the route of the Auekland-Helensville main highway was considered, and a suitable recommendation was again before the Board, the nature of which will be disclosed in the Gazette notice.

The question of toll-gates, which has already been the subject of consideration, was again before the Board. Legal advice was that once a road was declared a main highway no local authority had power to retain or establish toll-gates thereon. Certain recommendations have been received from Taranaki, but the matter is to be referred back to the county councils concerned with a request for details of the revenue from the toll-gates and the anticipated amount of expenditure on roads.

Certain draft rules governing the control of heavy traffic on roads were considered. Under these it is proposed that local authorities within each highway district should group together. The individual counties would continue to collect licenses, and the funds would be pooled at the end of the year and distributed in proportion to the traffic. A copy of these rules will be forwarded to tike Minister for consideration. In connection with the Motor Vehicles Bill, the Rangitikei County objected to the amount it was required to contribute towards the Manawatu Gorge road, but it is to be informed that the board is unable to take action, as the road is not a main highway and is governed by a special Act.

Certain amendments to the Main Highways Act were considered, and the necessity of these will be brought to the notice of the Government,.

The Board did not consider any applications for subsidies, it having already instructed the. district highway councils that all applications for subsidies from county councils are to be placed on the annual estimates, which arc to be received in' Wellington by July Id, .1924, to enable the board to consider the applications as. a whole. This will enable the board to make a comprehensive survey of the position and equitable distribution of the funds at its disuosal.