Wheel Tax Question.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 219, 9 October 1896, Page 3

Wheel Tax Question.

At the County Council meeting on Monday, Mr Horrocks moved a motion to amend the provisions of the Act so as to enable the Council to deal with the regulation of heavy traffic and to amend the by-laws generally, if necessary. In speaking on the motion he said he thought it would be a good think to pass the resolution, so that the new Council on the 31st March next can have the whole thing cut and dried, and, if they feel disposed, they can have the wheel tax in place of the toll gates. Mr Peters seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Connett suggested that the matter be allowed to stand over till the new Council is elected. By the time of the election the members will be able to get the feeling of the ratepayers on the question. He moved in the direction mentioned. The Chairman seconded the amendment. Kegulation would probably have to be introduced to deal with heavy traffic. Messrs Okey and Adlam supported the amendment. Mr Peters did not think the Council was in a position to deal with the question. If the members went into the matter it was possible they would alter their mind at the next meeting ; they had had that experience before. The present Council was arriving at a very peculiar age. An infant, on arriving at its meridan, stood firm on its legs, but on approaching second childhood it tottered, and was not capable of considering the position. That was the position the Council was in, and for that reason alone he would like to see Mr Horrocks withdraw his motion. The new Council would, no doubt, when properly baptised, consider the whole question. Mr Tate thought it would be better to let the new Council deal with the matter.

Mr Horrocks was sorry to see the attitude taken up by the members. The present was a most opportune time to introduce the question, as it would be something fair and square for the ratepayers to consider. Under the circumstances he would withdraw his motion. Mr Connett said the Council could depend on it that the ratepayers were considering the matter. The discussions were published in the Press, and the question would, no doubt, be introduced at the election. The members could consider the ratepayers wishes. Mr Connett's motion was then carried, and the discussion ended. A resolution passed by a meeting of ratepayers in the Lepperton schoolroom protesting against the wheel tax and favoring the present system of tollgates, was read at a subsequent stage of the Council's proceedings.— News.