HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 8

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

IMPOSITION ON FARMERS.

PROTEST OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

Strong opposition to the action of the Government in insisting that heavy traffic fees be collected on farmers lorries used to cart milk to the factories was voiced on Saturday by members of the Stratford County Council, who said that if the council were compelled to collect the fees many farmers would have to cease supplying factories and either instal separators or go off their farms. , , , It was decided to place the whole matter before Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., and to solicit his support towards excusing the council from collecting the collection of the fees would bear extremely heavily upon farmers, said Cr. H. C. Taylor. One supplier of the Ngaere factory who had been struggling for years with a big farm and a large number of cows had been served with a notice that if he did not pay the fees he would be prosecuted. “This man,” said Cr. Taylor, “is right up against it and he has money neither for fees nor for any fines that might be entered against him if he does not pay. This means that he will have to put in a separator or leave his farm. That is only one case; suppliers as a whole cannot afford to pay heavy traffic fees as well as rates and ins ; «tence upon collection will perpetrate a great injustice to farmers.” “It is a downright disgrace that a farmer cannot cart to the factory by lorry without being'subject to a special imposition,” said Cr. J. T. Belcher. Residents of the Mangaehu riding, said Cr. L. Bunn, had received notice from the borough council, stating that they would have to bring their lorries to Stratford to be weighed and classified. The lorries, he said, had been weighed and marked and the settlers could not spare the .time or money to bring the trucks to Stratford to be weighed again. Mr. T. T. Murray said the imposition would greatly affect suppliers of the Strafford factory, which was situated in the Stratford borough. As long as farmers paid rates they should not have to pay the fees too. '• The chairman (Mr. T. R. -Anderson) said the borough council was within its rights in insisting upon weighing because lorries had to be classified. so that plates according to the classification could be issued. The eounty council, could not dictate to the borough council, but the weighing did not affect the other point.

FARMERS’ UNION AT TOKO.

REPORT FOR YEAR’S WORK. The year had been a strenuous one for farmers generally, but with . the exception of wool and fat cattle, produce had shown a slight increase in values, states the annual meeting of the Toko branch of the Farmers’ Union to be presented at the meeting on Wednesday evening. , . . Many grave problems had faced the union, to each of which the branch had given its serious consideration. To the president and Dominion executive had fallen the brunt of these deliberations, and to them every farmer in New Zealand should feel grateful. Meanwhile the townspeople also were facing grave problems and the report suggested that in any call for unity the farming community should not be found wanting. All local matters brought to the notice of the branch had been attended to and the delegates to the Stratford sub-pro-vincial executive had given attention to all matters brought up for discussion. The financial position of the branch was sound. The year commenced with a credit of £lB 14s 7d and ended with a credit, of £2O 10s 9d. Membership despite hard times remained the same. A series of debates was held on farming subjects at which junior members were the principal speakers. These meetings were fairly well attended and proved valuable. Mr. R. W. D, Robertson, New Plymouth, gave a very interesting address on the dairy industry which was well attended and was greatly appreciated. The branch competitions were again well supported and some members won Taranaki honours. The competitions were regarded as a valuable work of the union as they possessed a distinctly educative value. At the Stratford winter show Toko won the district court championship in a close contest. The greatest honour of the year was, however, won by Master John Cook, who carried off the Stuart Wilson cup for the champion plot of carrots in the Dominion under the Boys’ aud Girls’ Club movement.

Two social evenings were hejd, one being in conjunction with the Women’s Division. Both were very successful. The report appealed to farmers to give their earnest support during the coming year.

STRATFORD COUNTY CONTROL.

ROAD AUTHORITY REINSTATED.

The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held on Saturday, those present being Messrs. T. R. Anderson (chairman), S. Pitt, W. Vickers, T. T. Murray, W. H. Were, R. Mounsey, J. T. Belcher, L. Bunn, J. C. Best and H. C. Taylor. . ' Referring to the recent cancellation of road authorities, the district engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. P. Keller) advised that in respect of the council’s application the following had been re-instated: Matau (£3 for £1 subsidy) £l2OO, Puni stream bridge ( £1 for £1) £266, Puteorc Road £lO5 Ils sd.

Mr. W. Campbell, Purangi, applied for the lease of Whetu Road as far as it ran between his sections 15 and 16 starting from the North Matau Road. . His application was referred to the riding member aud the engineer. Messrs. E. A. and G. Faulkner, Bird Road, Ngaere, complained regarding the state of a creek that flowed through the property of a neighbour below them. They alleged that he had failed to clear the creek, which had backed up in their property. —The neighbour will be served with notice to clean his creek. For classification purposes under the Main Highways Board it, was decided to purchase 52 road signs at Is 3d each.

PERSONAL.

Mr. R. D. Lewers left Stratford on Saturday morning on a visit to Wellington.

Mr. 0. Lennon is representing the Stratford Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society at the triennial Dominion conference at Wanganui.