D.—7

Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

TOLL-GATES (REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE GENERAL QUESTION OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Hon. Minister of Public Works, Wellington. In compliance with Cabinet direction, a Committee consisting of the following officers of this Department —viz., Messrs. G. T. Murray, H. H. Sharp, and T. M. Ball —has investigated the general question of toll-gates, and I forward attached hereto their report and recommendation for your consideration. F. W. Fukkert, Engineer-in-Chief. Public Works Office, Wellington, Ist November, 1921.

REPORT. 20th August, 1921. To the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, Wellington. In pursuance of directions issued in May last, we have inquired into, and now report upon, the general question of toll-gates. In order to obtain the necessary information on all the questions involved your Committee deemed it advisable to hold meetings at New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, and Wanganui, and issued notices to the various local bodies in Taranaki and Wanganui districts, in order that all those affected might have opportunities of placing their views before your Committee. Sittings were accordingly held as under : Tuesday, 26th July, at Borough Chambers, New Plymouth ; Wednesday, 27th July, at Courthouse, Stratford ; Thursday, 28th July, at Borough Chambers. Hawera ; Friday, 29th July, at Borough Chambers, Wanganui. The following local bodies were represented before your Committee: Taranaki, Stratford, Clifton, Hawera, Eltham, Egmont, Waimate West, Inglewood, Wanganui, and Waitotara County Councils; New Plymouth, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, and Wanganui Borough Councils; New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. At New Plymouth and Hawera full evidence was taken, and at Wanganui your Committee took careful notes, besides, fairly full Press reports were also available. The present position and attitude of the various local bodies concerned in regard to toll-gates is as follows :— Taranaki County Council: One gate already in use, three more applied for. Stratford County Council: One gate already in use, no others applied for. Clifton County Council: One gate already in use, no others applied for. Hawera County Council: Two gates already in use, no others applied for. Eltham County Council: Two gates already in use, no others applied for. Egmont County Council: None in use, three applied for. Inglewood County Council: None in use, four applied for (if other applications all granted). Waimate West County Council: None is use, none applied for (opposed to toll-gates). Wanganui County Council: None in use, one applied for. Waitotara County Council: None in use, one applied for. New Plymouth, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, and Wanganui Borough Councils, opposed to toll-gates. New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, opposed to toll-gates.