AN EXPENSIVE PASTIME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 97, 2 August 1910, Page 7

AN EXPENSIVE PASTIME

DESTRUCTION OF TOLL-GATES. SUGGESTED PUNITIVE TARIFF. At the county council meeting yesterday, the chairman jaoved, according to notice given, "That owing to the deliberate and wasteful destruction of the 'ratepayers' property at Puniho toll-gate:—That classes 1, 2 and 7 of the Schedule of Tolls be amended to read: (1.) Single horse ridden or driven out of harness, Od; (2.) for every buggy or light vehicle drawn by one horse, Is; (3.) ior every dray drawn by one horse or pair of bullocks under lour inch tyres, Is; each additional horse or pair of bullocks attached thereto, 6d; and that an additional j toll collector be appointed at the gate to collect tolls from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. next' day." I The chairman, in .his letter containing ' his notice, stated, "I have gone into this matter fully, and considered it from al points, and so far as I am concerned' am determined that such acts as hov lately been perpetrated at the Puniho toll gate will not influence the council in the least as regards the removal ofi the toll gate or the toll collector, consider the increase of these thre ! classes of the schedule will fully com penisate the council for costs incurro in re-instating the damages and the ex tea cost of a night collector without de creasing the present revenue." Councillor Carter said that the council would agree with the purpose of the motion, which was to protect the cuun 'cil's property, but it was expensive v make the amendment. He was exceed ingly sorry that the people down tlier were destroying the property, for tne were only piling up their indebtedness Every time the council had to supply a new toll-gate, or new boards, the cos had to be debited, of course, to th Omata riding. The trouble, of course wias that it was not the ratepayers, an not the respectable people of the district who were causing all this trouble an expense. The council had to take pre ventive measures, but he suggested tha the action proposed by the cnaiima. should not be taken unless there was a repetition of this sort of thing. It waf a pity to penalise the bulk of the rate payers for the mischief of these peopl who went about destroying toll-gate and toll-boards. If this sort oi tnia was likely to continue the council woul. have to employ a nightwatchman, an. the tariff would have to, be raised tt provide his wages.

Councillor Andrews said lie didn't be lieVe in tliis lawless destruction of pro perty. He asserted that if the toll-gat keeper were shifted there would be ai end of it. It was the man himself wh brought the whole trouble on the coira cil. He resided in the district, and b. claimed to know the feeling ol th people there. Practically every day h heard complaints concerning the man' manner of collecting the tolls. He kne_ that paying tolls wasn't a popular -tiling but when the payer didn't get civility i was worse than ever. He denounced,th toll collector's conduct in strong terms. Councillor Hopson: He's too hones for you. Continuing, Councillor Andrews oai that the tar which was put on the board recently had not been taken there fo that purpose. As far as he could lear it had been intended for use of Taylo himself, and when the men discovered his absence they were disappointed. Pre vented from carrying out one piece o mischief, they turned to another, H argued that "had the men intended tar img the gates they would not have had need to break open the house and pro cure the broom —they would have take the tools with them. In moving that the gatekeeper's services be dispense with, he saiid that his dismissal woul end the trouble.

The chairman said that he was quit satisfied that the ratepayers were no causing the trouble, for very few o them used the gate. He knew as wel as any man did that toll-gates were un popular, but bad roads were worse. fTh gate had been erected there to assis the ratepayers in the upkeep ol the road As long as he was on the council h would see that the council was no "beaten" in this way. Councillor An drews had suggested that the gate re cently removed would be found in th lake. That might be so, but he waßn' going there to look. These people could go on tearing down gates if they liked; they could fill the lake with them, but the council would keep on replacing. That sort of thing»wouldn't assist in having the toll-gates abolished. As far as the gatekeeper was concerned he wouldn't have anything to say. The mani was a relative of his by marriage, bu he wouldn't allow that to influence him i If the council liked to discharge him they could go ahead. Under the circunx 1 stances he would not push his motion . but would holdl it over. I

Councillor Allanson suggested that th better plan would be to carry the mo tiom, and then decide not' to make i operative unless there were further mi« chief.

Councillor Hopson said he had known the collector for over five years, and the' man had worked under his personal di-| rection. He could say of him that there was no straighter or more honest man in Taranaki. He had a peculiar imaniner' at times, but meant no harm, and wa i not uncivil.

Councillor Hill said he had heard com plaints concerning n want of tact, bu there had been no complaint to the council from the ratepayers. Councillor Carter remarked' on the absence of any complaint to the council. It was worth remembering that since Taylor had been appointed to the gate the revenue had considerably increased He did not wish to say anything elsethe facts would speak for themselves. The chairman agreed to hold over hi notice of motion, and Councillor Andrew adopted the same course in reference to Uis motion.