LEVEL CROSSINGS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 June 1927, Page 3

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

ELIMINATION PROPOSALS.

LOCAL BODIES’ DISCUSSION

PROPOSAL OF CONTRIBUTION

APPROVED

At the annual conference of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, held at Eltham yesterday, the matter of the elimination of level crossings was discussed, and a proposal that local bodies .should contribute to the cost was approved. The, chairman (Mr* J. S. Connett) said that the Railway Department was prepared to iset aside £25,000 per annum for the elimination of level crossings. This would be subsidised by the Highways Board. The .speaker had suggestedo ait the Highways Council meeting that Taranaki should contribirte five per cent, from Reia *ry •fcnafric fees and five per cent, from the local bodies interested. Ten per 1 cent, would amount to between £4OO and £SOO. This was not excessive, and would be an indication that the association was willing to assist in elimination. The offer would he acceptable to the Railway Department and the Highways Board. He proposed a motion on these lines v Mr L. Nairn (Eltham Borough) considered it a, fair proposition, and seconded the motion. Mr R. Stuart (Inglewood County) supported the motion, and said that Taranaki could hardly ‘‘sit hack in the breeching” and do nothing. Messrs I. J. Bridget- (Eltham Borough), T. R. Anderson (Stratford County) and P. Skoglund (Stratford Borough) raised minor objections that the allocations of heavy traffic fees wort Id be interfered with': that, being a matter fidi- the local bodies themselves. the association could do little towards coming to a decision; and that ini view of the fact that heavy traffic fees must he expended upon reads, boroughs had no 'authority to vote them into other channels. The chairman moved a motion approving the principle of contributing towards the cost of elimination of level rail wav crossings. Air Murdoch -said he would adhere to a'resolution passed at a previous conference, and opposed' the motion. Mr Dong considered that local bodies would he, doing the right thing by contributing towards elimination of dangerous crossings. He took a humanitarian view of the subject. The motion was carried.