MAIN ROAD MAINTENANCE.

Putaruru Press, Volume I, Issue 5, 15 November 1923, Page 2

MAIN ROAD MAINTENANCE.

THE TO EL GATE QUESTION. County Discussion. Following cm tho spec ini report submitted by the engineer, Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald, at 11 re previous meeting’, some discussion on the question of county main roads and toll gates took place at Friday’s meeting* of the Matamata County Council. Cr. C. A. Stopford suggested that a toll gate he erected on the Kaimai road to collect revenue to maintain a permanent surfaceman on the road all the vear round. It should bo placed a little distance above Cr. J. Pohlen’s property. The car service people were agreeable and he was assured there would be no opposition from the Tauranga side. Cr. S. H. Judd asked why not erect the three toll gates suggested by the engineer in the special report, namely, one on the Kaimai road, one on th.* Rotorua road, and one on the Taupo road.

Cr. W. H. Allen agreed that although personally he did not care for the thought of a toll gate, he certainly considered that one should be erected on the Rotorua road, as thereby the through motorists who -had asked for improvement to the road and for whose benefit the road chiefly existed would pay the costs of maintaining it.

Cr. E. J. Darby said there was the question of the Pukeatua settlers using* the Putaruru riding roads for all their heavy carting without paying towards the cost of these roads. One way out of this difficulty was the establishment of a toll gate and another way would be the inclusion of the Pukeatua area concerned in the Putaruru riding. The chairman: Yes; but you get a certain amount of that sort of thing in all localities. Cr. K. S. Cox asked how would the question of toll gates be viewed by the Main Highways Council.

The chairman:That council has decided nothing yet.

The engineer: It is necessary to apply to the Government for permission to erect a toll gate. The one suggested for the Rotorua road and the one for the Taupo road would be required only for the summer months each year, when the tourist traffic was in vogue.

Cr. J. P. Keeley: But if you erected one toll gate at Karapiro it would catch all the Rotorua and Taupo traffic, and thus take the place of the suggested two gates further on. The chairman: Yes; but it would catch Karapiro riding ratepayers too. Cr. Keeley (jocularly): Yes, and Cr. Judd’s also, who pay nothing towards the Karapiro roads they use. Cr. Judd: Do the toll gate receipts go to the riding account, or to the general account ?

The engineer :To the general account.

Cr. Judd: That’s better. (Laughter). It was agreed that owing to pressure of time the discussion should be deferred till next meeting.