The Felding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 31, 5 August 1893, Page 2

The Felding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

A NEW WAY TO MAKE KOADS. In order to get at tbe pockets of settlers in certain counties in the north of Auckland, who are either too poor or too moan to tax themselves under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act to make their own roads, the Hon Mr Seddon bos introduced a Bill which is intended to put the burden on the shoulders of the owners of vehicles first, and thus indirobtly on thoßo of the settlers. Tbe principal part of tho measure roads as follows : — "ln addition to their powers under section 311 of tho Counties Act, 1886, the counties within the provisions of the now Act are authorised from time to time to make bye-laws to provide for tbo licousing of all vehicles drawn upon or along any road within, the county, and to prevent unlicensed vehicles using any of the said county roads, and for appointing the several sums to be paid to the county fuud for the licensing of vehicles, which sums may be appointod to vary in respect of different classes of vehicles, the number and species of animals used in drawing the same, the weight of the load laden on such vehicles, the width of the tires of wheels, or the number of pasBengers to bo carried respectively." Of course Her Majesty's mails are exempt. Wo are iuformod that tollgates were first instituted in England for the same reason — that is : to keep tho roads in repair by taxing the people who used them. Apparently the idea was a just one, but actually the injustice of the tax was, after many years, discovered, aod toll-gates were abolished except iv a few very isolated instances. If this Bill bocomes law, we will watch for the results, with considerable interest, because should it prove a success, although we do uot believe it will, the experiment might bo tried in other places where the people will not follow tho good example given in this part of tho colony, where the settlers make their own roads, and maintain them out of their own pockets directly without making tho unfortunate carriers tax-collectors on their behalf.