HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

Southland Times, Issue 24823, 15 August 1942, Page 4

HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES

SOUTHLAND BASIS OF ALLOCATION The allocation of heavy traffic fees in Southland was discussed at a meeting of the Wallace County Council. It was stated that the percentages on which the revenue was allocated to the various local bodies in the province had not been changed since they were first fixed 15 to 17 years ago and conditions had changed considerably since then. The engineer (Mr J. G. C. Baker) emphasized that the allocation was not fair to the Wallace county. Since the percentage had been fixed, the Southland County Council had been relieved of the cost of maintenance of considerable lengths ,of road which were now State highways. That also applied to certain boroughs in the province. Councillors said that a conference of local bodies would be necessary to make an alteration, and they admitted that the time was not opportune for holding conferences. It was decided to hold over the question in the meantime. Information about the formation of E.P.S. organizations in the county was received from the district controller (Mr H. J. Macalister). It was decided that the council form itself into an E.P.S. committee with Cr E. K. Sim as chairman and Cr D. Tevlotdale as deputy. Crs Sim, H. G. Pinckney and C. J. Speight were appointed an executive committee. It was decided to contribute £5 towards the funds of the Southland Museum Trust Board. Appreciation of the council’s action in letting a contract for the clearing and snagging of four miles of the Pourakino river was expressed by the conservator of forests (Mr J. F. Field). He said he hoped that only trees affecting the flow or likely to be undermined wofcld be taken out, and that they would be dragged back at least half a chain and lopped off to assist decay and lessen fire danger. If the council would remove the serious obstruction higher up the river it might be possible to allocate State Forest “fifths" towards the cost. It was decided to attend to the blockage if “fifths” were made available.