COUNTY HIGHWAYS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6405, 20 October 1923, Page 3

COUNTY HIGHWAYS

TOLL GATES SUGGESTED REPORT TO MATAMATA COUNCIL A special report as follows was submitted (says the “Record”) by the County engineer, Mr M. E. Fitzgerald, on the question of main highways through the Matamata County: “I would suggest that the question of declaring the most important roads in the county as main roads be given careful consideration by the 1 Council. The step is almost sure to be taken at some time in the future, and it has much to commend it. The question of toll-gates and the operation of the new Main Highways Act have an important bearing on the subject, for unless the roads affected by them belong to the county as a whole individual councillors are bound to consider these questions from different points of view. If, on the other hand the roads in question were pooled, then the councillors would have a common interest and all would work for the benefit of whole. The mapping out of a main road system for the county involves many financial considerations, for each riding will naturally request that it gets' a fair interest and that the extra it pays through the general fund is saved in its direct charges. There will also be the squaring of small local interests when one considers that one part of the main road has had money spent on it by the frontages whilst the next length has not had these advantages. However, the problem will have to be faced one day, and the longer it waits the greater will be the complication.

“The attached may show a suggested system of main roads and would serve as a basis to work upon. In it I have • endeavored to forsee the important roads of the near future and at the same time give each riding its fair quota. An examination of the capital and maintenance expenditures of each road would call for alterations. The way that each riding, or special area, is developing small isolated sections of the roads, to suit its individual and particular requirements certainly calls for .some connected’ policy. I have indicated three points on the map where toll-gates might be erected with advantage (one on the Kaimai road, one on the Taupo road, and one on the Rotorua road). Toll-gates are prehistoric and all that sort of thing, but the fact remains that they will get revenue, which is needed, arid so far as they are placed not to cause unequal burden upon county ratepayers,' whilst giving the road user value for his money, they are an institution not to be altogether despised. The toll-gate on the Kaimai could be the home of a very much-needed permanent surfaceman, whose wife could take the tolls. A toll-gate keeper on the Rotorua road would probably be of value during the summer only, and the same might be said of the Taupo road.” It was decided that each riding member be supplied with a copy of the report, together with the map, for consideration, and the matter be then further discussed at the next Council meeting.