THE PUNIHO TOLL-GATE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 270, 5 April 1911, Page 3

THE PUNIHO TOLL-GATE

OMATA DIVIDES THE SPOIL. At the Taranaki County Council meeting oil Monday tin' vexed question of tlie apportionment of the revenue from the I'unilio toll-gate was discussed. Cr. MeAllum, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that the revenue from the I'unilio toll-gate should lie apportioned between the Oka to and Omatsi ridings. In speaking to the resolution, Or. MeAllum said he would not waste the time of the Council by repeating the arguments already used, hut would place before them in figures the true position of the ridings, which explained the reason of his strenuous efforts to get juCce done to the Omata ratepayer.-. The original debt of the old Omata riding as at March HI, IMO. was £1877, apportioned on a valuation basis to Okato CIO2B and Omata £B4!>. A separate rate of %d in the £ was levied in each riding with the toll-gate revenue, estimated at £lioo, to meet the liability. If no portion of the toll revenue were allocated to Omata, the position would be that Okato, -with its separate rate of %(\, £475, and the toll revenue, £OOO, would have wiped off its debt by March SI. IDII. and have a credit balance of £47, whereas without any toll revenue Omata would have to lew a %d special rate until March 31, 11)13, and a %<1 .special rate ..... March 31, 11114, and would then he £7 overdrawn. He did not take into consideration the general rates, whirl), lie considered, must, be used for the upkeep of the road, and not to pay off any debt. Jly apportioning the toll-gate revenue to the two ridings it would not be necessary to strike the %d rate any more, and both ridings would he clear of their liability on March Slst, 1012, after which the toll-gate revenue could revert to Okato. During the interim he had investigated the rate rolls and found that the Omata riding contained 7804 acres, valued at £131.382, whi«li worked out at the rate struck in each riding, viz.. 1 31-120.1 an Hie '£, meant that Omata was. >*^ y . i"? »U Average of Is 0.1 per ;\ci'» J m r .; t( ;. In fact, there were some Vatepavers paving 10* 2d per acre,, and quite a number from 3s to 7s '(none of the holdings being under 25 acres). Okato ratepayers, with an acreage of 05,852. and '* valuation ol £303,905, paid only 5%d per acre, a difference of nearly 300 per cent. Taking only the %d rate, lie found - that every acre'in Omata wiu paying o>4<l towards the liquidation of the debt", as against l%d per acre in the Okato I riding. The figure? showed the true position as regards the debt, and if the claim were not considered, then the ■ mata riding would lie in a tight corner. If the justness of the claim were admitted, then the %d separate rate need not be struck, arid the whole of the tol'»ate revenue would revert to the Okato r, ' : -i« in 1012.

Cr. Hill seconded the resolution. Cr. Andrews said if the resolution were carried an injustice would be done to the Okato riding. The figures quoted by Cr. MeAllum did not, he considered, disclose the true position. At present the Okato riding was overdrawn to the extent of £l7O, whereas Omata had an overdraft of only £3l. At the present time Omata had got their year's requirements for road metal paid for, and some of it was even on the road. Okato, on the other hand, still had its year's supply to pay for. This would' take about £682, so that their present liability was £Bl2, as against Omata's £3l.' He did not agree to the valuation basis as laid down by Cr. MeAllum. He considered mileage would be more equitable. On this basis Okato had 14 miles .if road to maintain, as against five miles In (he Omata riding. Cr. Carter said that there was a considerable differ.uiice between the figarei given by Cr. MeAllum and those taken from the books, as to the positions of the n-',ings.. He asked if Cr. MeAllum had '.aken into the consideration the subsidy. t Cr. MeAllum remarked that mien the ridings separated there was a debt of £1877, which had been apportioned as follows:—Okato £IO2B, Omata £B4O. The toll gate and %d separate rate were devised to liquidate that debt. He had not taken into consideration the subsidy or general rate, which, he considered, went to the upkeep of the road. Cr. Carter said that the heavy overdraft in those ridings was caused' by the extraordinary heavy expenditure at Tapuae and Oakura. There was never any question but that the toll-gate had been erected to catch the trallic from the Egmont county, of which no doubt this end of the district was carrying its quota. Consequently, he thought if this end had to keep its road in repair to carry that trailic, it was only absolutely fair it should receive some of the toligate. revenue. That was only justice., and none of the councillors wanted any-' thing outside that. The only question was, how was the adjustment to be arrived at? lie considered all credit was due to both ridings for having so reduced their debt. He did not think, however, that it was just to L -ive all the revenue to the Okato riding. It must be borne in mind that land at this end was paying as high as 10s 2d per acre in rates, anil that was why the toll-gate had been put.at the other end of the district, and was also the reason why the separate rate 'had been fixed as low as

Cr. Ilopsnn agreed that the toll-gate hud been erected lo maintain the road throughout. He considered the revenue should be divided according to mileage. Cr. llcAllmn stilted thai, he wa., only suggesting the valuation busi- as a means of settlement. Cr. Andrews a {ruin re-iterated that the Okato liability was £Bl2, and Omata C'il Yet it was proposed to tak'e part of their revenue and biinu it to this end. The chairman .said the gate had been erected for the purpose, of the riding iinanees into ship-shape order. It liad also been placed where it would impose least hardship on the counfv ratepayers. The object for which the tollgate had been erected had not been accomplished. The Okato riding was extremely dillicnlt to maintain. If the Omata end required money -pent on it for maintenance, he would not hesitate to grant Mime of the toll revenue. At present, however, a amount of e\penditure was required in the Okato riding- Of the subside Okato received ■llll whereas Omata received .tl".!). The toll-gale last, year produced jElilj!) nett. Anolher tJiiiiVr (hat, wei-hed with him was the fact that the Omata people objected strongly to the toll-gate. They saiii they did not mind what rate the'v had to pay - 0 hang as they had no tolif- r ale. I'.ui now they wanted a -diarc of this toll-gate revenue. I'util both riding.- wen- in a sounder iinancial position he would object lo the revenue from oik- ridim.' bci'n.L' paid to another. I'r. Andrews -aid his ridiiej would not object if it were in a .sound linancial position. Cr. I arlcr: If Omata N oiilv l.'ll overdrawn. i[. knocks Vr. McAMiiin to smithereens. Cr. .McAllum, in replying -aid the debt was apportioned by the Council, not by the riding. If this revenue were lixeil on a mileage basis, why was not the debt apportioned on the same Hues? lie did not ihink even Hurworth was as highly valued as Omata. Not only that, but the whole of the traffic converged on the road.

The chairman said the gate was not put up merely to liquidate the debt, but also to maintain the road. They would remember that at the time he said the gate would lie lh"re for ever.

Or. MeAllum: When yon compare the valuations, it shows that Okato riding

was not as highly valued as it should be. Kvoii allowing the betterment value on account, of Omata being so much closer to New Plymouth and the port, tin; difference is unreasonable, lie went

on to say that Omata should have redress, and if this proposal were agreed to it would not be necessary to strike the %d rate. In I<ll2 they would both be out of debt, and the whole toll revenue could revert to the Okato riding. The Omata roads were not as they should be, and he did not see why any of the general or district rates should be taken from the roads to liquidate the debt. Cr. Hopson moved that the proposed division of toll revenue be held over for 12 months, as it had not been shown that the Okato riding was in a position to part with any of it. Or. Andrews seconded, but the chairman ruled that it was a direct negative. The Council then divided on Cr. MeAllnm's motion, which was carried, Crs. Stevens, Carter, MeAllum and Hill voting for. and Crs. Hopson, Andrews and the chairman against. Cr. Andrews immediately gave notice to move at next meeting that the resolution be rescinded, characterising it as the. most scandalous thing ever done in the Council.

Discussion then ensued as to the proportions to he devoted.to each riding. On the motion of Cr. Carter, seconded liy Cr. MeAllum, it was resolved that onethird of the net revenue of the Puniho toll-gate lie devoted to the Omata riding and the other two-thirds to the Okato riding. In the course of this discussion it was pointed out that that meant taking away £2OO revenue which had already been credited to the Okato riding, so that the riding is actually £2OO worse than shown v ..„■'•■- " '•>••-• », . l *'ws had given notice to move that a toll-gate be erected in the Omata riding. He, however, asked, and was granted permission, to hold the matter over until next meeting.