TOLL GATES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 23, 2 May 1916, Page 7

TOLL GATES.

THE!R ABOLITION OPPOSED. The question of the abolitiow of to!! Viites cropped np at the meeting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday. , when the Taien County Council forwarded copy of a resolution, petitionjing the Government to limit tiie power jot Municipal Councils to erect toil gates and take tolls on bridges (>y prohibiting the erection of such coll gates, and the taking of such tolls without [the sanction of the Governor-iu-Coun-cil and l»y reserving to the Govornor- ‘ in-Coimcif power to diminish the tolls 'or to abolish the toll gates wherever , he may deem it advisable to tie so. as |is provided in the case of toll gates elected by local authorities on roans under Section lob of the Public Vi oi ks Act. 1908, by Section 173 of that Act. and that the tolls to be taken at any toll gates on any bridge, whether now existing or hereafter to be erected, shall be restricted to a. sum sufficient

to provide for the erection } upkeep, maintenance, and renewal (when necessary), of any such bridge, and shall not bo levied in aid of ordinary rates and revenue. The chairman did not see that municipalities should be on a better looting than other local bodies, who had to obtain Government permission. Referring to the question of tolls, the chairman said that the Council should take some action in regard to the proposed Bill submitted by Mr Wilkinson, M.P., to abolish toll gates. He considered that the Council should- protest against this, otherwise the Bill might bo put through the House before they met again. He understood that it was proposed to pay a subsidy in place of toll, .but the question would be the amount of the toll. No action .was taken in regard to the Taien resolution. On tiie motion of Crs. J. Andrews and C. Andrews, it was resolved that in the event of any legislation being introduced during the ensuing session of Parliament providing for the abolition of all toll gates ; the member for the district be asked to strenuously oppose such legislation.—(Nows).