Opiki Settlers and The Toll Bridge

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 2

Opiki Settlers and The Toll Bridge

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER The toll bridge over the Manawatu River at Rangitane was again brought before the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, yesterday in Palmerston North by a deputation representing the Opiki branch of tho Farmers’ Union, which was assured that it was the Minister’s intention shortly to call for tenders for a new bridge and the necessary approaches. The deputation consisted of Messrs. J. Aitchison, C- Claridge and J. A. Cooksley and was introduced by the member of Parliament for Palmerston North, Mr. J. Hodgens. Tho spokesman asked for relief from the tolls that the residents of Opiki were called upon to pay for the right to use the present bridge over the river at Rangitane.

In reply, fie Minister said that the project of the new bridge was so far advanced that he would iu tho near future be calling tenders for its erection and the construction of the approaches. He definitely would not take over the present bridge. Subsequently the deputation waited on tho president of the Automobile Association (Manawatu), Mr. W. B. Brown, to whom they pointed out that a new bridge had been promised two years ago to the settlers of Opiki and that was prior to the request being made for a new one at Bulls. They had stood down for the Fitzherbert bridge and the number 60 highway and apparently the Automobile Association was asking for the Bulls bridge to take precedence over the one at Rangitane.

Although it had been mentioned by one speaker in the course of the discussion of the toll bridge at the last meeting of the association that the settlers did not have to pay the toll, the deputation stated that there were 92 settlers who used the bridge and for the first four years it had boon in existence they had paid at the rate of 2s 6d or over £7OO a year for crossing once a week. For the remainder of the time the cost had been Is 6d and they considered that they were paying £360 annually. Many of the settlers used it more often than once a week.