Waverley Toll. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2003, 14 July 1892, Page 11

Waverley Toll. TO THE EDITOR.

Sm, —" A Portobello Ratepayer" does not agree with me that the action of the Government in reducing the above toll rate is against the principle of local self-government. It goes without saying that the membeis of the road board are elected to do the best they can for their district. Members are elected annually, half tho number retiring, say, this year, and the whole number next year. So that it is a very eaby matter to shunt them if they do not give satisfaction, and elect others in their places. The toll was established about five I years ago, but not until after the last election a few months ago, when the toll was mado a j burning question, could two members be got to move for its reduction, and at the next meeting when the question came up for consideration there was only one member to support it. I think it must be evident to any one but this particular "Portobello Ratepayer" that the action of the Government was against the local option principle. As regards the petition signed by a "large number of ratepayers," the number was G4, just the half of thorn ;, being resident ratepayers, while the number on the ratepayers' roll is 372. The Heads district, which "P. R." wishes the Portobello Road Board to take charge of, would, he says, provide adequately for the reduced income from toll. That district, as Mv D. H. Loith shows in his letter on the subject, could only raise about L4O for road-making, and thatjwithout considering their own necessities, is the sum to "adequately " refund L 135 lost from the toll! As "P. R." evidently considers he could put things to rights in the board, why don't he get elected '! Is it because his fellow ratepayers have not the same opinion of his abilities as he has himself ?— I am, &c, Your Broad Bay Correspondent. [ I [