PUNIHO TOLL-GATE REVENUE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 233, 7 February 1911, Page 7

PUNIHO TOLL-GATE REVENUE

SUGGESTED TRANSFER DEFEATED. Or. D. McAllum moved at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki County Council, "That a proportionate part of the net revenue derived from the toll-gate ac Puniho, a revenue-earning asset of the ttld Omata riding, be expended in the Omata riding, until such time as the liability of the present Omata riding as at the Ist April, 1910, is liquidated." —ln moving the above motion, Cr. M'Allum said lie had been told that if he dared to bring forward the resolution, a certain person whom he need not name would be after him with a gun. (Laughter.) He wanted the council to understand that he had no persona; feeling in the matter, and wanted only to do the best he possibly could in the interests of the ratepayers—guns or no guns. He asked the council to look at the question from a broad and business point of view.' If, he said, the Omata riding was not entitled to a proportionate part of the revenue earned by the toll-gate at Puniho, he did not want it, but he asked them, if they concurreo. with his views on the matter, to apportion to the Omata riding such sum of the net earnings of the toll-gate revenue as seemed right and just. The council's legal advisers were of the opinion that such revenue could not bo credited to any one riding in particular, but could at the discretion of the council be expended on any main road it deemed advisable. That being so, they had to find out for what purpose the toll-gate was erected, and as he understood it the main object was to collect revenue to assist the ratepayers in the old Omata riding, in conjunction with the three-eighths of a penny in the £

separate rate levied, to wipe out the liability it had contracted over the Tapuae and Oakura deviations. If, on the other hand,' the object was to colleci revenue from the public and the traffio from Egmont county on its way to the freezing works at Moturoa for the upkeep of the Main South road, his'claim for consideration was just as strong, presumably stronger; for, besides tho Egmont County traffic, they had also the traffic from the Okato riding to provide for; further, thoso who were paying toll for the upkeep expected, and rightly so, that the whole length of the Main South road would be kept in repair, and not only that portion through the Okato riding. The greater portion of the rates collected in the present Omata riding was spent'in what is now the Okato riding. There was no ncea to go into details of the liability under which the riding was suffering, but it would be sufficient to say that it was caused by deviations at Oakura and Tapuae, and neither of those places was within the boundaries. of the present Omata riding. In conclusion, Cr. McAllum asked: Was it fair, just or an equitable division when a dissolution of partnership took place that one partner should be saddled with a portion of the liabilities and receive no part of tl,e assets; whilst the other should have all the revenue-earning assets to help him meet his share of the liabilities? He said most emphatically it was not, and he asked that justice be dono to the ratepayers in the Omata riding. Cr. Hill seconded the motion. He said some adjustment should be arrived at. , When the toll was put on it was done ( with an object, but the then Omata riding had since been cut in two, and the . toll was still there. In equity, some ot . the money should be spent in Omata riding.

Cr. Andrews: Supposing the council votes in favor of portion going to Omata, I would like to ask Cr. McAllum if he is willing to have the toll-gate shifted from the Okato riding every alternate year. The chairman: Seeing there is not a full council, would it not be better to hold the question over? Cr. McAllum said it had been hanging on for three months, and it was time they reached finality. The chairman: I am quite prepared to go on with it if you are. In reply to Cr: Andrews, Cr. McAllum said he was quite willing to have the toll-gate shifted if it was put at Crompton's corner. Cr. Andrews: Shift it and give everyone a show. Cr. Stevens asked if Cr. McAllum had any scheme as to the division of the revenue; was it in proportion to the rates paid? Cr. McAllum said it would be oji a valuation basis, to wipe out the liability, and when that was done they would not. want any more. Cr. Andrews said to apportion it on a valuation basis was very unfair. The Okato riding had 10 miles of road against five miles in the Omata riding. They should review the position. It was a "check," to say the least, to ask this of the settlers. The chairman gave some figures foi the guidance of members. He said that the Omata riding had a valuation ot £131,382, from which a total revenue of £654 13s lOd was derived, and had five miles of main road not including St. Aubyn road, giving an average of £l3l per mile. Okato was valued at £303,995, total revenue £lOOl lis sd, and the length of road was 16 miles, an averagt of about £IOO per mile. Cr. Hopson said that now Omata war divided, it was entitled to a share of the revenue, and he was in favor of the proportion being based on the mileage. Cr. Tate said matters had got reversed. At the time, feeling was most bitter against the erection of the tollgate, and they did not wish one at this end. Now this end wanted to rob the other.

Cr. McAllum: Don't say "rob." Continuing, Cr. Tate said what he objected to was that the money was earmarked practically for reducing the liability at that end. It would be just as well to let the matter rest for the present. Cr. Stevens said he was inclined to agree with Cr. McAllum. Cr. Andrews again referred to thii shifting of the toll-gate. If it were shifted to tins end of Omata it would mean another £4OO in revenue, and soon they would be in a better position.

The chairman said there was no doubt the position was serious between the two ridings. Omata really had some claim. He admitted he was as much to blame as anyone in having the toll-gate put where it was. He would like to see Okato in a satisfactory financial position before shifting any of the money, when he certainly would be prepared to vote Omata part of the revenue. At the present time he could not vote for it, as the council was bound to keep up that part of the road. The ridings were getting out of debt and redncing their liabilities, and if he remained in charge, and they supported him as they had done, and continued to reduce the debt, the ridings would soon be in a good financial position. Cr. McAllum replied at length, traversing the arguments of the members in opposition to bis motion. Cr. Hill: In the event of no revenue being transferred, would it be possible not to levy the separate rate in Omata riding next year? At this stage someone remarked that Cr. Hopson had left the meeting. "Gqrie!" said Or.. JdcAlhim; "well, 1 ask that the matter stand over unth next meeting."

The chnirman: I asked you, Cr. McAllimv to hold it over until there was a full meeting, and you were not agreeable. It is a peculiar position to put the chair into. Cr. Andrews: I protest against it. Cr. McAllum put in another claim for an adjournment, but the chnirman was obdurate. "I can't accede to your request," he said, and the vote was taken. Result: Ayes.—Crs. McAllum, Hill, aiid Stevens. Noes.—Crs. Andrews, Tate, and Brown. The chairman gave his casting vote in favor of leaving the position as at present, and the motion was lost. Cr. McAUum immediately handed in a notice of motion, and the matter will eome up for further discussion at next meeting of the council.