The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914. TOLL-GATES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 81, 26 March 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914. TOLL-GATES.

In view of the discussion which took place at the last meeting of the Stratford County Council on the proposal to establish toll-gates in the Stratford 'County and the Conference of delegates from Taranaki County Councils which met at Eltham on the 21st instant to discuss the toll-gates question, a short history of toll-gates as a method of taxation will doubtless be of interest to our readers. In the first place we would, however, say that in hardly any circumstances is the institution of toll-gates* as a means of taxation wise or justifiable, but regarding that aspect will not just here go further. Tolls are of very ancient origin, dating back to medieval times. Originally they were granted by the King only, and were usually in favor of some loyal landowner to be exercised only in respect of the territory of which the particular individual was the overlord. They were usually granted as a recompense to a private individual or a guild for erecting and maintaining bridges and ferries or maintaining a harbour. In this way they served a useful purpose, as they encouraged the establishment of necessary public works long before the local system of taxation was universal enough to permit of bridges or ferries being undertaken by the local bodies. Later on the right to levy tolls often arose through mere usage, where probably no Royal Charter or Grant, iiad been given; the fact ,of tolls having been collected for a number of years establishing the right in the same way as the use of a private right-of-way gave the general public an absolute right to use the right-of-way as a public road. With the establishment of local bodies by statute the Grants from the Crown gradually ceased, and authority to levy tolls was granted by the statutes under which these bodies exercise their

powers ami functions. Tolls Imve been regarded in the oldc-r-seuled

countries as a temporary means ot establishing and maintaining roads and bridges, and have been supersed-, ed by taxation of the land traversed, by the roads in question, or to winch the bridges may give access. i hose tolls were collected in England under the notorious “Turnpike Act,” which gave the right to collect toils for a, certain time only. They have now; all expired, and the last toll on highways or public roads has been collected in England. Ju New Zealand the Governor may, by Order-in-Gonncd under the “Counties Act” empower the local body to levy tolls in respect of ferries and bridges which arterected by or at the cost of private individuals. This is the only instance nowadays of the grant ot the ancient right of levying tolls with a view to encouraging the construction by private enterprise of necessary works for. the use of the community as a whole. The provisions of the “Turnpike Act” in '■ England have been embodied in our “Public Works Act,” and not in the “Counties Act’" as one would have, expected, as the latter Act is practically the supreme

and only authority . under which Countv Councils exercise their func-

tions. This fact is significant, as it seems to indicate that the legislature regarded toll-gates as public works.

and therefore only to be erected where the local authority was unable

to meet the demand for a public work out of the revenue received by it un-

der its power of local taxation. Under section 156 of the “Public Works Act” the local authority having control of a road may cause tolls to be collected on such road and for that , purpose may do the following things: (a) Appoint and discharge collectors of tolls; (A) place on the road tollhouse, gates and bars; and (c) from time to time lix the scale tolls to be collected at any toll-gate or ferrj upon all persons, cattle, or vehicles, passing the same, and may revoke or alter such scale. It is provided, however, that no toll-gate shall hereafter be established within one mile from the boundary of any borough except for a ferry. Every ticket issued at a toll-gate holds good until midnight of the day of issue as regards the passage, or repassage, through the gate of every person, vehicle, or animal, in respect of whom or which the ticket was issued. The following persons, cattle, and vehiclet are exempted from the necessity m paying tribute to the toll-keeper:— The Governor and his retinue, members of the military forces going to or returning from duty, constables while on duty, passengers by mailcoaches, children passing to and from school, stock belonging to farmer.: residing within a mile of the toll-gate and passing to and fro for purpose 'of changing pasture or obtaining water, and every animal and car; employed solely in drawing manure. Some of the above exemptions, however, do not apply to tolls payable at a ferry.