TOLL-GATES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 January 1925, Page 4

TOLL-GATES.

AUTOMOBILISTS PROTEST. AGAINST THEIR CONTINUANCE. The subject of toll-gates and the consequent double taxation incident thereby on all who ii&e the roads where * gates exist, has occupied a. lot of attention, of late, and was last night the main subject of the meeting or the Automobile. Association, in South Taranaki held, at Hawera. Representatives of the Hawera, Patea. Manaia, and Eilthiam branches were present, and the question was the subjoct of much disc'Uisfiion.. Strong protests were entered and are to be sent to the Minister in charge of the administration, of the Main Highways Department. - Mr. W. O’Ctallaglian was in the chair, and there were present of members of the executive: Dr. McGhie, Messrs. Duffill, Cox, O’Dea, Wa.lkley (Hawera), T. B. Crump, W. J. Ti-istmm, C. Harrison (Eilthani), Dr. Simmonds, and W. Slieild (Patea), and a. number of Hawera members of the Association. Mr. Tristram briefly explained the proceedings of the local bodios conference at Eiltham last week, whic-h showed that all delegates were in sympathy with, the proposal to protest against the continuance of all the gates. He said that local bodies in whose territory there were gates had agreed to urge the abolition if they received a, subsidy. He said they must go eventually, and he considered they should go now. Mr. O’Dea said he did not see why a subsidy should be paid because the counties with toll-gates had received a. great deal of revenue in the past and had penalised other counties. The gates 'should not be a. tax on the community. Mr. Tristram said that counties would get heavv traffic fees in addition to many others. Mr. Walkley read a, letter received from the Minister in reply to one from the association dealing with the abolition of gates. Eventually a. motion was carried, moved by Mr. Joll and seconded by Mr. Burdekin, to the following effect: “That in view of the fact that all motorists traversing South Taranaki are now subject to double taxation, each branch of the South Taranaki Automobile Association telegraph the Minister of Public Works vigorously protesting against the continued existence of toll-gates, and that all local bodies and chambers of commerce be asked to co-operate and telegraph similarly; that the Automobile Union be requested to take the matter up ia.s one of the utmost- urgency, and that failing finality being* reached within fourteen days, two delegates from the association to go to Wellington and interview the Minister and the Main Highways Board, the delegates to arrange for representatives from other bodies to accompany them.’’ It was decided to' send a. copy of the resolution to Mr. Ball, chairman of the District Highways Council No. 7.

Messrs. Crump and Walkley were apopinted delegate®, with the understanding that if they were unable to go a. substitute be appointed. A remit to the effect that the gates be abolished at March 31 was instructed to be sent on to the annual conference, at Napier. The messages to be sent are:

From Patea. —“In view of the double taxation resulting from the operation of the Main Highways Act, motorists here vigorously protest against the continued existence of the toll-gates in Taranaki, and will be glad if you will give definite assurance that they will be abolished without delay.—W. F. Slieild, for Patea branch of the S.T.A.” From Eltham. —“Motorists in this district branch of the S.T.A. enter most emphatic protest .against the retention of gates involving, double taxation on. mbtoriste, and urges that tolls be abolished immediately.” From the S.T.A.—'“This association enters strong protest agjninst retention. of toll-gates after coming into operation of the Main Highways Act. ami in order to obviate double taxation urges immediate abolition of the gates.’’ * From Opunake.—“Motorists here, regret the Government has failed to abolish toll-gates, and trust that von will remove present unfair double taxation. —J. N. Stephenson, secretary."