OPUNAKE MOTOR SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 37, 24 May 1910, Page 7

OPUNAKE MOTOR SERVICE.

THE QUESTION OF TOLLS.

A REDUCTION ASKED FOR,

The question of reducing the fees charged at the Puniho toll-gate for the passage of the Opunake Motor Transport Co. a waggons was again before the Taranaki County Council yesterday, when Mr. 11. Daily, representing the Opunake Motor Transport Company, waited on the Council. He reminded them that some time ago the Council promised to re-consider this matter at the close of tihe financial year. He ■pointed out that the motor-waggons carried a maximum of two tons, whilst the horse-waggons carried up to three tons. The motor-waggons paid 5s a trip ,and the horse-waggons 2.9 Gd a trip. The company had paid £55 7s i'A in tolls in the last four months, and the annual charges were going to amount to £IBO a year, or thereabouts. Cr. Stevens asked if it 'would suit the company as well if the charges on tae horse-waggons were raised. Mr. Bailv said he could not ask that.

Upon being, informed . that the revenue for the past year' had not been sufficient to maintain the road, Mr. Baily argued that that strengthened his case". '"The more you help us the easier it will he for the road." He also pointed out that the carriers had a big trade between New Plymouth and Okato, and the waggons on that stretch paid no toll charges. All the company's waggons 'went through the toll-gate, and paid toll. Mr. Bally having withdrawn, Cr. Alhnson moved that the toll on motorwaggons be reduced .to 2s 6d. He thought it a mistake to penalise this company, and perhaps break it. It was not righteous that the company should pay all this money for damage which was not caused by them. Cr. Andrews seconded, and said he wioukl like to see all the five-horse waggons off the road. When that came to pass, the burden of the ratepayers would be much reduced. He would oppose any reduction of the motor-car charges, for the waggons were carrying the ratepayers' produce, and the motorcars were all "foreign" to the riding. Cr. Tate supported the motion, sayinw that the company was paying for damage caused by other forms of traffic. Several councillors suggested that the impost on horse-waggons should he increased.

The chairman remarked that he believed in reducing the cost of living to the farmers, tout he didn't helieve in putting money into the pockets of the Transport Company. He was afcraid that if they granted this application the waggoners and coach proprietors would he the next. But the whole thing was a matter of finance: Could the riding afford it?

Cr. Andrews pointed out that the company was owned by the farmers. Cr. Stevens: In the Egmont county or the Taranaki county?

Cr. Andrews: Most of the money, 1 think, comes from the other county. Mr. Stevens said that by reducing the charges it seemed to him that the settlers in the Taranaki county wouldn't benefit much, for the company served the other district.

In answer to a question from Cr. Hill, Cr. Andrews said that he thought the company's garage at Okato was being built for the convenience of running rae company, and not for the purpose of evading the toll.

Cr. Carter suggested an entire revision of the tariff and a re-adjustment of the whole of the charges, so that, whilst reducing the motor-waggon tolls, the revenue would still remain about the same. He was not opposed to reducing the charges in the case under notice, but could not support the reduction of the toll-gate revenue toy £9O a year. It was pointed out that the Council could not deal with this matter, except by notice of motion. Cr. Andrews gave notice to move at next meeting that the charge on these motor-waggons be reduced to 2s 6d.

A committee, comprising the chairman and Crs. Allanson, Carter and Hill, was set up to enquire into the working of the present schedule.

Individual councillors were unanimously in favor of acceding to the request, if the revenue of the riding could he conserved.