A PROPOSED TOLL-GATE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144666, 28 April 1915, Page 8

A PROPOSED TOLL-GATE.

COMMISSION APPOINTED. PROTEST FROM STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council a received from the Minister of Works with regard to the proposed toll-gace on Mountain Road. He stated iliat the application had received caroiul consideration, but the Government was averse to authorising any additional toll-gates to be erected except as a last resource and where no oilier reasonable means of raising money for cho upkeep of the road could be devised. Under those circumstances, therefore, if the council still desired xo erect the toll, the Government proposed that before any final decision was come to, the whole mutter should be referred to a commission. To this end the Minister asked to be informed what local authorities were interested in the upkeep of the lead and what proportion of the co*t of maintaining same should, in the councirs opinion, be borne respectively by such local authorities in tlio event or the Government not seeing its way to obtain the authorisation of tiic toll.

A let tor was also received from the Cmler-Sccretnry lor Public Works, Mr. 11. •}. M. Blow, stating; that the Governor had appointed a commission to inquire into the matter under Section KW of ihe .Public Works Act, 1008, when it would he possible for the council or other local bodies to show that instead of an apportionment of tlie cost of maintaining the road, as provided by that section, it would suit the local bodies belter if a toll were sot up. and if it was clearly proved that sucli would he in the interests of the district, the commissioner would no doubt report accordingly. Ho asked that the council supply the necessary information asked for by the Minister of Public Works, in order that the local authorities whose traffic uses tlio road may be notified of the appointment of the commissioner and bo prepared. when the commission sits, to adduce the necessary evidence in support oi their view of the matter.

Alter discussion, a committee consisting of tlio chairman (Councillor Hathaway i. Councillors Anderson, Christoffol, and Walter was appointed to draft tlio miormation required by the Government.

'i'ho committee mot at the council office on Saturday morning. The chairman explained the object, and at the conclusion of the meeting, the following resolution, on the motion oi Councillor ChristofVol, .seconded bv Councillor Anderson, was carried: “That the Minister for Public Works bo informed that as the road on which the .toil-gate is proposed to bo erected is practically carrying, the whole of the through traffic between Sew Plymouth, .Napier, Wellington, Wanganui, and I almerstnu .North districts, the council consider it would be no use to expect any contributions from the neiglibqurmg local bodies, and docs not see tbo necessity for a special commission, hut is prepared to tender evidence in support of the council's request for a tollgate.” '

It wa.s also decided that a letter, of which the following is « draft. be sect to the Minister of Public Morks: “On May “9. 1014. the Hon. Fraser (Minister lor Public Works) met Councillor Chrkstoffel and the chairman and led them to believe that when the council had submit tod a .schedule of tolls the Government would ha vo no objection, to the erection of the toll-gate by the council. The schedule of tolls was posted to the Minister on June 22, 1014. out ibis council received no reply till July To raising any objections to the schedule. Councillor T. H. Anderson was appointed on July 15 to wait on the Minister, which be did on July arid the result of the meeting was that the Minister said that tin* Government was introducing a Motor Tax Pill, and if the Act did not pass the Mouse, no objection would be raised to the toll-gate. In anticipation of the extra revenue, the council laid increased the expenditure on the road.*’