THOSE TOLL-GATES AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 135, 6 July 1909, Page 4

THOSE TOLL-GATES AGAIN.

COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION : UNCHANGED. "■ Toll-gate talk occupied a pretty fair slice of the afternoon sitting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday. The position has .become a bit complicated owing to the various propositions that have been put forward from time to time. Origiually. upon tile recommendations of ratepayers' meetings, the Council decided to establish toll-gates (a) on the Main South road, between tho Werekino stream and Minerapa road, beyond Okato; (b) across' the Main South road at its junction with the Barrett road; and (c) a toll-bar on the Main South road opposite Barrett road. At the same meeting Cr. Andrews gave notice to move that a toll-gate be erected on tTie breakwater road. Then the ratepayers, 142 strong, petitioned the Council to strike a farthing rate over the riding instead of sotting up the system of tolls. Tile Council could not see its way to do that, -but, in order to effect a compromise, proposed to strike a rate of three-eighths' of a penny in the pound over the riding, and to establish a toll-gate on the Main South road near Piyiiho. Cr. Andrews protested that that decision would not bo acceptable to the majority of the ratepayers, and an assurance was given that the Council would be prepared to reopen the question if a further petition were presented at the July meeting. Cr. Andrews was' confident that only about five in a hundred people favored the rate in preference to tolls, and that there would be a petition showing an overwhelming majority in favor of tolls. During the month a petition was prepared, and it was' presented to the Council yesterday, signed by 118 ratepayers, in favor of toll-gates. With a view of giving 'effect to the. June rcsolutions(for separate rate of three-eighths of a penny in the £ and the Puniho toll-gate), Cr. Carter had given notice to move that the previous resolutions establishing toll-gates be rescinded. This he moved yesterday when the Council was .prepared to discuss the ratepayers' petition. Cr. Garter reviewed the position somewhat as above, and said that in rescinding the previous decisions the Council was only giving effect to the wishes of the ratepayers, as evidenced hy the preponderance of signatures to the June petition. Cr. Hill seconded the motion.

Cr. Andrews opposed it. Reviewing the position, he said that it had at first been left lo the Omata ridhig members to decide how the riding was to produce the money required to reduce th' a pverdraft. The members referred the matter to tlie ratepayers and four meetings -were held. Tlie matter was fairly placed .before tlie ratepayers, who decided in favor of toll-gates. Acting upon that, th? Council decided to establish the gates, as' the ratepayers seemed to wish. Then came the petition, the signatures to W'hich lie claimed had not been obtained toy fair means hut on n.isrepresentation. Some' who signed the first petition had also affixed their naiiios to the present petition. In signing the first petition they were merely stafing a preference for a farthing rate against toll-gates, but the Council decided on the %d rate, which was' not what the petitioners asked for. The first petition, too, had been taken round by paid men, and nearly everyone was interviewed. The present petition, on the contrary, had merely been placed at post offices and dairy factories for signature, yet it had 118 names. Cr. Carter asked Cr. Andrews if it were true that he was going to the ratepayers on the point. 'Cr. Andrews: Yes.

Cr. Carter: You're going to resign? Cr. Andrews: I'm going to ofl'er the Council the choice of two alternatives. Cr. Hopson, having ascertained that the petitioners against toll-gates exceeded those for the gates, said he would .be in favor of acceding to the request of the majority. Cr. Tate supported the motion, but felt that it was perhaps unfair to place a toll-gate so close to the boundary line between the Taranaki and E»raont counties.

Cr. Carpenter thought the issue should be toll-gates or halfpenny rates. The chairman said the matter had been left to the ratepayers, and, judging by the petitions received they had now decided bv a majority in favor of a rate of %d in the £ ami a toll-gate at the Punilio end. There was nothing in the plpa that one petition had been pushed nnd the other had not. The issue was important, and the petitions should have been pushed. As for Cr Tate's contention, he had long thought it was most unfair that this' county should carry Egmont'g traffic for noi,The, proposed ghte would not affect the iaranaki county very much.. As for toll-gates versus rates, he had been accused of "turning his coat." He had not, but lie would always ibe prepared to turn his coat if lie* were assured that the change was for the better. He had stated, and he was' of opinion still, that if he were in the Omata riding .lie would be in favor of tollgates.

Cr. Andrews was given leave to make an explanation, and lie again animad\ci ted upon the methods adopted in securing signatures to the first .petition, lie contended that the Council had 'messed the whole thing up 1 ' by makiii" a rate and establishing a gate as wcl? instead of deciding for one or the other; and it .had been guided by a petition signed by people under a misapprehension. We understood Cr. Carpenter intended resigning, and he asked the Council to hold over tins matter so that lie might resign, too, and let the ratepayers light out the election on the questions of "toll-gates, or rates." If lie were beaten, he would retire gracefully, and jolly glad, too. In the alternative, the Council might submit .the question directly to the ratepayers. Ci. Carter, replying, said he understood that to-day's petitions had been circulated at the instigation of Cr Andrews'

Cr. Andrews: Xo, n o ; I had nothing to do with them.

i, a , r , tc 'f said " 10n that Cr. Andrews had led the Council to believe that there wou d be ten times as many petitioners as liad been before the Council last month. Well, he had got 118, and of those only 71 would be really affected b) the toll-gates, the '-'inainder beiii" residents of the | St Aubv „ township. They, of course, preferred tolls to rates. He took it that tiic petitioner.,' for the farthing ~a | ,L . con |,| not have .been greatly grieved at the Councils decision to lew a %d rate or the, would have rushed this present toll gate petition. ,\„ u„. I) ridia" was losing nnuh 0 f its revenue by sevc£ I Once it mi:4expect to lie heavily taxed to clear oil' its overdraft and maintain lis expensive road; and if the people asked to have the money raised by rate tire Council could but accede to the wish Referring to Cr. Tate, lie said lie s'aw no unfairness in asking the Egmont county g traffic t0 j )ay j or t j )L> of eountys road. The same course was open to their neighbors if they we-e aggrieved. Concluding, be said that although it might 7iot be graceful to say it, it really looked as though Cr. Andrews did not represent the majority if the ratepayers in the Omata riding.' The motion was' then put. Ci\ Andrews voting for and against. A division result iu the motion to rescind being carried liy six votes to two, only Crs. Andrews and Carpenter opposing, Tt was decided to call tenders for tnc election of a toll-gate and toll-house on the 'Main South road near the Puniho road.

Upon the motion of the chairman, the separate rale of three-eighths of a penny 171 the C was struck.

'flip Council decided to fix the schedule of fees at an adjourned meeting next Mondav.