HILL-TOP TOLL-GATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16416, 3 May 1921, Page 7

HILL-TOP TOLL-GATES.

DIVIDED CONTROL, TROUBLE OVER TICKETS, DUTIES OF A KEEPERThe receipt forms provided for the toll-gate at the Sign of tho Kiwi, Dyer’s Pass, lie in the office of the Summit Road Association. Meanwhile there is talk of confiscation and threat of legal action. No fewer than three local bodies, the Summit Road Association, the Scenic Reserves Board and the Heathcot© County Council, claim to have a certain amount of authority over tho hill-top track, the toll-gates and the green patches of native bush. To add to complications, there is the keen interest in summit road affairs of Mr H. G. Ell, ex-M.P. for Christchurch South. ‘“lt is Mr Fill’s intention to play one body off against, another. It is part of his game to endeavour to interfere,” said Mr W. Machin, chairman of the Summit Road Association, to-day. Matters appear to have readied a crisis through the decision of the Heathcot© Council, at the request of Mr Ell. to make tho toll compulsory. Mr Machin was interviewed with reference to a statement that legal opinion was being sought on the confiscation by him of four rolls of toll receipt forms. “ T saw our rest-house keeper at the Kiwi on Saturday morning.*’

said Mr Machin. “Flo informed me that lie had been instructed by Mr Ell and Mr (Tow per to collect tolls and that he had replied that) he could not do anything until he received instructions from the boclv which employed him, the Summit Road Association. He handed me four rolls of tickets and an official letter from th© Heathcot© County Council. T took charge of th© tickets and brought them

down to the city, and wrote to the chairman of the Heathcot© County Council that T was surprised that ho Ipid given our rest-house keeper instructions without first doing us the courtesy of communicating, and I informed him that- tho tickets were lying at the secretary’s office at the disposal of the County Council. 1 further told him that, when his council elected to formal b\ approach the Summit Road Association. T should be very pleased to brine - the matter before mv executive. “ The statement that the caretaker at the Kiwi (Mr O’Shea') is the representative of the Scenic Reserves Board i* incorrect,** eontinjued Mr Machin. “He is paid bv the association and receives his instructions from that body. Tn October last: the association extended the courtesv to the Scenic Reserves Board of permitting its caretakers at the Kiwi and TConnedv’s Bush to act in their spare time as honorary rangers of. tho reserves near by: but n w as distinctly laid down bv th© Commissioner of Crown Lands ‘that'this wa s intended in nnv way to conflict with tli© association’s authority over them or to interfere in anv wav with their ordinary duties to the association.* is all this is part of Mr r'l s purpose, in endpavourins to interfere with tho work of tho n= soetation, with! which he has had a quarrel. Mr Ell has h«m responsible tor creatine trouble between the association and two of its rest-house teeners already Our relations with the Heathcote County Council hare been of the most cordial character .and we cannot understand their action. We are absolutely surprised by the action thev nare taken. Our relations with the fecenio Beserres Board are of the harv piest possible character, and obviously !Lie (f r • \ intention to play one body off against the other.”