PROPOSED TOLL BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 11

PROPOSED TOLL BRIDGE

OPPOSITION BY MOTORISTS DEPUTATION TO MINISTER [by telegram —OWN cobrespondent] WELLINGTON, Friday A proposal to erect a toll bridge across the arm of the Porirua Harbour in order to give a more direct route between Faremat a and Plimmerton and to obviate the eight-mile journey by the present route round the harbour, was opposed by a deputation from the North Island Motor Union and the Master Carriers' Federation, which waited on the acting-Minister of Public Works, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, to-day. Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., said motorists had thought they had disposed with the toJl gate idea in New Zealand for ever, and they were concerned that it should bo revived for that reason. They strongly opposed the principle, quite apart from the local proposal. Mr. W. O'Callnghaiv president of the Motor Union, said the Paremata-Phm-mevton Bridge scheme was not concerning the union particularly at the moment. Its main concern was with the apparent approval given by the Minister to the toll bridge system of financing highways. In reply to the deputation, the Minister said he could not agree that there was a proposal to re-introduce the toll gate svstem in New Zealand or that there was even a danger of that being done. The proposal affected a road that was not a main highway, and it affected a district which wa s merely seeking to provide better access to its area. The Minister said he could see no objection to the proposal. The motorists of New Zealand had cause for complaint, for he understood it would have taken only about £60.000 to construct the highway on the level route in tho first place, whereas it had cost about fi.120,000 to go over tho Paekakariki Hill. The question of a toll bridge was not settled, and it had to bo further considered before anything would be done.