COUNTY COUNCIL’S ACTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16505, 5 August 1919, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL’S ACTION.

CHAIRMAN STATES POSITION. ASKS THAT COUNCIL B'E GIVEN A CHANCE. “Tho attitude of tho Boro\ip;li Council as expressed in that communication cjyars tho air; wo know exactly whore wo aro now, 1 ' remarked tho chairman of the Taranaki County Council (Mr. ,1. S. Connett), at tho meeting of tho council on Monday with reference to a letter convoying the decision of the New Plymouth Borough Council re-garding'toll-gates. “There has been a feeling among our ratepayers and the general public that toll-gates would bn a better proposition for many of them than the wheel tax proposed to he put into operation. Now they will see that wo have no choice in tho matter; that wo cannot get the toll-gates. ivc have arrived at the position we all expected to when we started out. \Vc knew tho possibility of getting tollgates was very remote indeed.” In the course of further remarks, .Mix Connett said that, while not surprised at tho action chosen by tho Borough Council about toll-gates, the members of the County Council wore surprised at the action they took in attracting the notice of outside local bodies, ami considered that in this the Borough Council and the bodies who responded had acted beyond their jurisdiction. up tc the present, Mr. Connett said, ho had not been able to see any justification toi their action; the arguments raised in opposition had been absolutely weak, and the county’s position, in lus opinion, was quite unassailable. The fact that tho County Council had increased its general rate by id lor the current year was quoted by tnc sues her as sufficient indication that tnc financial position required some action to lie taken to obtain relief. It had been stated that tho increased valuation would give relief, but it was not fair to place the whole burden upon tho land. Regarding assertions tnat llie council should have been tar-soalinp its roads, the speaker said this might apply to tho Main South Road, but it had been found cheaper to re-coat metalled by-roads than to tar-seal them, and this course would bo followed as long as the position remained the same. Referring to tho remarks made at the annual mooting of the Rnhotu Dairy Company, .Mr. Connett said m was sorry to boo the attitude that had been taken up and thought it was not fair to hit 'a neighbouring institution through the chairman of the County Council because ho happened to bo tlic chairman of both bodies. They might think they were right in taking tins action, but tho speaker said, he wa! convinced that fair counsels would prevail and that the Agricultural Society would not be made to suer. Mr. Connett mentioned that tnc county councillors were appointed tc work in tho interests of the ratepayers, and he believed all they had done up to the present had been in tho mmests of tho ratepayers. In conclusion ho said; “If they will allow us to carry out this proposal in our own way, tncy will find we are reasonable men. anc that it will not be earned out to tnc detriment of any section of the community, or, in other words, we wu. make it as easy as it is possible for u. to do.”