TOLLGATES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4428, 16 June 1922, Page 2

TOLLGATES.

COAST ROAD UPKEEP. The Thames County Council’s anxiety to erect toll-gates on the Coast Road was again expressed at a meeting of the Council yesterday. Replying to a request that a proposal for the erection of toll-gates on the Coast Road be approved, the Public Works Department stated that some time ago a special committee had been set up to investigate the whole queston of existing toll-gates in the Taranaki district and applications for additional toll-gates,. The committee had strongly supported the Department’s previous contention that tol’-gates were not by any means a satisfactory solution of road maintenance difficulties. Furthermore, there was. a strong public prejudice against toll-gate.s which often operated very unfairly as a taxation agency. Under the circumstances the Department could not favours, bly entertain the application. Mr. Lowe (chairman) said he was rather disappointed, though from what the Hon. Mr. Coates had said it was regarded as an obsolete metliod of collecting taxes. The Coast Road, however, was one in which most of the traffic came from outside the county, a.nd only 10 per cent, from within the county. The Borough Council had stated that it would assist in the matter, and had suggested levying an amount on the different motorcars. It was decided to urge the member for the district to again point out to the Government that the Coast Road was differently situated to other roads. Cr. McCormick said that now the toll-gate system had been turned down the Council should ask for -a commission to bring the matter to a head, Cr. Cox thought the Council should make further efforts for the institution of tollgates. Cr. Faithful did not think the Council should let the toll-gate suggestion drop altogether.. They should interview Mr. Rhodes, M.P., to put the matter before the Government again. If the Government would not grant toll-gates, let them find some means of collecting the dues. He moved that the chairman be deputed to interview Mr. Rhodes. The motion was seconded and carried.