TOLLS AND GOOD ROADS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 28, 24 April 1924, Page 2

TOLLS AND GOOD ROADS.

WELL WORTH WHILE. Putaruru Motorist’s View. A Putaruru motoi’ist who recently made a trip through the Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay districts, but owing to the late floods was prevented from returning in his car and later had it brought back by a friend, received some days afterward the following letter from the collector of tolls, Stratford county:— “ On March 21 last, at 10.55 a.m., the motor car ‘ M.M. ’ passed through the toll gate here without stopping to pay the necessary toll for two-seater car, viz., 2s. I find on writing to the county clerk at Matamata the car is registered in your name as the owner of same. Please forward at your earliest the toll, 2s, plus 6d expenses, and thus save further trouble and expense.” To this the car owner replied:— “ I have your letter referring to ■the evasion of toll for car No. ‘ M.M. —,’ which passed the Waipuku toll gate on v March 21 last without paying. The car mentioned belongs to me, though I was not an occupant at the time. Upon inquiry I find that those in charge of the car at the time were not aware of the requirements of your clistrict in the matter of tolls, and not having noticed the warning before arriving at the open gate, merely treated your collector’s signal as a friendly greeting and passed on. No evasion whatever was intended, and please accept on behalf of the travellers concerned the enclosed amount of ss, which is cfouble the demand, and place the extra f 2s 6d to any district fund you may choose. While congratulating the Stratford county upon their very excellent highway, which is more than worth the toll demanded, I have been asked by the drivers in question to extend a hearty invitation to members of your council to drive through our Matajnata county during the next few winter months a£ no charge whatever.”