The Reporter

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 29, 13 October 1894, Page 8

The Reporter

THAT TOLL-BAR

PETITION'S AND PROTESTS. At yesterday’s meeting of the Southland County Council a deputation waited on the members to protest against the proposed toll bar on the Waihopai Bridge. On the motion of Cr. Dunlop the Standing Orders were suspended to enable the deputation to be heard. Mr John Tosh, on behalf of Bay Road and Otatara Bush settlers, presented a petition signed by 80 ratepayers. He stated that a strong and almost unanirnons feeling existed against the toll bar. The settlers he represented had special claims to consideration, as the toll would handicap various industries, while the settlers only used a very small portion of the thoroughfare. Mr G. Mackie handed in a petition signed by 120 ratepayers in the Waikivvi and West Plains districts. Personally, he thought it exceedingly unjust that the North Road should be selected for a toll while the Bluff and East Roads were excluded. He had a sawmill at the Makarewa, and the practical effect of a toll bar would be to boycott him in favour of sawmills on the Bluff and East Roads. Or. Dunlop had stated that if a poll were taken it would piobably be ia favour of the proposal, but if so it would only be due to th.e fact that people in other parts of the riding would vote for it because the other roads were excluded. There was nothing seriously amiss with the road —the expenditure of the rates collected in its vicinity would keep it in fair order. If a toll bar were erected there was a danger, unless accounts were kept very strictly, that money would go to other roads which should properly be spent on the North Road. Mr W. Russell said that many industries carried on by Otatara and Bay Road settlers as auxiliary to the clearing and cultivation of their allotments would be seriously interfered with if the toll were erected. It would also depreciate the value of property in the neighborhood. It introduced the principles

of unequal taxation, -which was obnoxious to everybody. The question was not brought before the ratepayers at the last election —it was in the nature of “ surprise ” legislation. The road was often very much damaged hy people with loaded vehicles, and who contributed nothing to its maintenance, and there might be some equity in imposing a tax on them. A large number of settlers would have been there to back up the petitions had they not been busy sowing. Mr J. W, Bain, on behalf of the Scottish and N.Z. Investment Co., who held several large properties in the district, also protested against the toll-bar. There was a very strong feeling against such things, which were regarded as obsolete, and the matter was one that required very careful consideration. Mr R. Cleave said that a toll-bar would be a great injustice to the Otatara and Bay Road settlers. He thought matters might be adjusted by making outside ridings, whose ratepayers used main roads, to contribute towards their maintenance, and so relieve the ridings in which these thoroughfares are situated ; it was unfair that they should bear all the burden. Mr C. Myers also supported the petition. Mr Mackie, in reply to a question as to the raising of funds, suggested that there might be a reconsideration of the values on which rates were based. For example, he knew of a block of five acres on which nearly a pound was levied, while ten acres just opposite, were rated at 10s. The deputation then retired. The special committee appointed to report on the subject recommended that a toll bar be established, a tollkeeper’s house erected without unnecessary delay —on the completion of these works and the appointment of toll-keeper and collector, tenders to be invited for leasing the toll bar and tolls for one year. The committee recommended charges for vehicles ranging from 5s for traction engines, to threepence for four-wheeled vehicles ; threepence each for every horse; two pence for every head of cattle ; one penny for every pig; and one-eighth of a penny for every

sheep. At the afternoon sitting Mr W. Halliday appeared before the Council and stated that the general feeling among the settlers was in favor of a toll. They preferred a toll to a double rate, if it were necessary to keep the roads in good order. Cr. Dunlop moved the adoption of the committee’s report, and in doing so pointed out that the petitions were largely signed by townspeople, the very people who used the road and paid nothing therefor. He then dealt at length with the arguments advanced against the proposal. The motion was seconded by Cr. Hamilton, and supported by Crs. McCallum, Fraser, and Raymond ; and opposed by Cr. Hast. On being put, the motion was carried, Cr. Hast alone voting against it.