TOLL GATES FOR RACEGOERS.

Shannon News, 14 June 1921, Page 3

TOLL GATES FOR RACEGOERS.

SUGGESTED METHOD OF ROAD * UPKEEP. During a discussion on motor traffic at the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, Cr. Harkness said he took particular stojpk of the motor traffic on the county roads during the recent Otaki races, and said he was greatly surprised to find such a large number of motor cars on the roads. There was no doubt at all about the amount of damage that was done on these two days. “Why not get something out of these people on racedays,” he asked, “to compensate for the damage they do?” The chairman (Cr. Monk): The Government collect a tax from these, people through the totalisator, and pay us a subsidy on our rates, so we get some compensation in a round-about wavCr. Harkness suggested putting up toll gates on race days. He was not in favour of toll gates as a principle, but he did think that temporary gates should be put on the roads on race days. He instanced the railway cut some time back when very heavy trap fle was % thrown on their roads, and it had cost the county £llOO in actdal cash to put them in repair. The Engineer: It will cost £2OO to repair the roads after the two days’ races at Otaki. Cr. Harkness: There you are: I am not against races, but I think the racegoers should pay for the damage they do. . Cr. McLeavey thought the engineer had made his estimate too light. He came along the main road after the races and found, it in a dreadful state. Cr. Ryder congratulated Cr. Harkness on his idea. It may Irighten the motorists and cause them to use the railway. If so, it would be a good job Cr. Broadbelt: Would we be in order in putting up toll gates for two days? The chairman stated that even during the time he had been chairman, motor traffic had grown from a small to a huge thing. As regards toll gates, there were places where he thought they should be applied, and one . was the Manawatu Gorge. That was the most equitable way of collecting a tax .for the upkeep of such a road as that. The chairman added that the Government had long promised a Roads Bill, and the Council should wait and see what was in it. All the same, it was a great pity that there was not some means of stopping motors from tearing along the roads on race days.