COUNTY TOLL-GATES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 48, 18 June 1914, Page 8

COUNTY TOLL-GATES.

J FURTHER DISCUSSION. MATTERS ADVANCED A STEP. The matter of toll-gates lias been before the Stratford County Council for some time, but meetings of ratepayers held so far have not been unmixediy in favor of thern. At yesterday's meeting of the Council the chairman (Cr. Hathaway) reported on various activities in the matter since the previous meeting. Mr Hathaway said be had visited Opunake and bad interviewed the Minister for Public Works, who said there would be no difficulty in getting permission for a toll-gate. In regard to a tax on motor cars the Minister said that' if it was decided to tax cars the best way would be for the Government to collect the tax and to distribute it to local bodies pro rata .on the length of road. That was practically the same as.the remit the Council had sent to the' Counties Conference. , Personally, be thought that the Government would do nothing unless pressure was brought to bear. The boroughs would help tin' counties to get re venue „ some other way than by tolls, especially if the ?ates interfered with the course of business. There would be a hue and -cry if toll-gates were put Up. At present the counties were not agreed on the question, several methods of raising revenue from motor ?ar s being suggested. At a banquet, at Elt.ham after the Opunake function, the question of subsidy was discussed, and the general opinion was that all counties should have a sudjidy of os on all general rates collected. If the Stratford County had •ece,ived such a subsidy it would not to in the bad financial position it was o-day. • On .June 3rd a meeting of atepayers was held at Kahouri bridge to consider the question of x gate in the East \ Riding, about fourteen being present. This meet■ig was in favor of a gate. In the fternoou a meeting was held at "oko Road about sixteen ratepayers ;eing present, and the feeling was gainst the gate. A former member >f the Council said the gate would x)st him £<"> per annum, and though i halfpenny rate would mean £2O in us case be woul/i prefer to pay the rate, as the gate came very bard on the small man. At Toko in the ;vening, the meeting seemed equally livided, and a resolution was carried isking that the matter'of toll-gates >e deferred until the new Council is •lected in, November. On Monday ast a toll-gate meeting was held at Ngaere, and the result of the discussion was a resolution, moved by Mr N. A. Brown, and seconded by Mr Christoffel, Jan., that the South Hiding should have thirty per cent, if the revenue from a toll-gate at Waipuku.

rHE RATEPAYERS' "WISDOM."

Cr. Were said that at the East, Hiding meetings the chairman put '.he County view and Cr. Walter put Me Biding view,' but the raetpayerSj ; n their wisdom turned the toll-gates" down. i The Chairman: In their "wisdom" f Cr. Ware: Call it what you like. . Cr. Smith: You should say "their superior wisdom." Cr. Walter said that at the meetngs he had suggested that if a gate vas erected in the East Riding half .he revenue should he set aside for ;he making of a concrete track for notors. The Chairman said, that when he spoke at the Opuuake luncheon ibout toll-gates he was practically jowled down. Tlie Opunake people seemed to think that when they rot the railway they would he "out rf the bush" as regards roads. He assured them to the contrary. Cr. Smith thought, thtat tiie only vay to get the matter of a motor tax dealt with was for everybody; U » vot© at .the general elections only f.or -•andidates pledged in its favor. There should ho a motor tax to do justice to settlers.. Cr\ V Christoffel quoted the tarred streets of Eltham lis an indication chat tarring would he superior to concrete for a road surface. T/he discussion then dropped. STILL TOO PREMATURE. After the first meeting of ratepayers at Mulhirst a number of people put in applications for the position )i- keeper of the gale, and another application was received yesterday. Naturally, nothing was done. DISTRIBUTING THE REVENUE. Later in the afternoon the discussion, was resumed, when the Chairman said he had previously moved that the toll-gate should be erected .is near as possible to Waipaku. and he now thought that the gate should bo at least ten chains from the railway. Members agreed with the chairman's suggestion. The Chairman said he wanted to know what should be done with the funds. He thought the North Riding should have the whole of the revenue for two years at least. Cr. Thomson thought thte South Riding should be given ten per cent. of the takings from through traffic. Cr. Were: Why not give 20 per cent, to reduce the overdraft? 'We Chairman: I could agree to that. \ Cr. Walter suggested that twenty 'per cent, should he set aside to experiment on a cement track. Cr. Smith thought the concrete |track was prematura. [ • The Chairman tytt M pay for

the necessary cement to enable a cluun of road to be concreted. The Engineer said the concrete track was. worthy of serious consideration. In other parts of the world concrete roads had proved a success. The various tarring systems had not ■ yet stood the test of time. After going into the question and being satisfied, of its value, the Council could then arrange to do five chains as an experiment. Cr Christoffel said he would oppose the ;j;ate unless a percentage was given to the South Riding. A BROAD VIEW WANTED. Cr. Were thought that for the first two years only twenty per cent, diould be taken from the revenue to reduce the ovedraft. Cr. Smith said the North. Riding was in a bad financial position, and it behoved all the other Ridings to :ako a broad-minded view of the matter and come to the help of the North Riding. For the first two years inly twenty per cent, should be takmto reduce the overdraft. He mov>d in that direction. Cr. Walter seconded. He said the Riding finance was in a good position, and they should help th<> North Riding. Cr. Thomson said ho must vote \gainstthe motion unless the South Hiding {rot a percentage. If a percentage was refused an injustice would be done to the South Riding. The motion was carried, only Crs. Thomson and Christoffel voting igaiiist it. Further consideration of the question was deferred until the speciemeeting to be held on Saturday.