PUNIHO TOLL-GATE REVENUE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 290, 2 May 1911, Page 8

PUNIHO TOLL-GATE REVENUE

QUESTION OF APPORTIONMENT. At the County Council meeting yesterday Cr, Andrews moved, in accordance with notice of motion, "That the resolution passed on the 3rd April, 1911, authorising the transfer of one-third of the net revenue of the Puniho toll-gate from the Okato riding to the Omata, riding be rescinded." In moving the resolution, he pointed out that Okato was £1590 worse off than Omata if this third of toll-gate revenue, amounting to £2lO, was taken from Okato. He considered that it was unfair and unjust, to take revenue that had been allocated to tile riding twelve months ago. I The chairman pointed out that the division of the money could not be made] retrospective, as the whole of last year's' revenue had been allocated to Okato. I Cr. Ilopson seconded the motion. ' Cr. Tate considered that while the finances were in their present position. Okato should get all the revenue. Cr. McAUum pointed out that Omata riding had lost a large amount of revenue from the St. Aubyn town district. On a division being taken, the mo- | tion was carried, on the casting vote oi

I the chairman. Crs. Hopson, Andrews, Tate and the chairman voted for, and I Crs. Stevens, Carter, McAUum and Hill, against. j Cr. Carter then stated that the mo-' I tion passed at last meeting affirming' the principle of a division of the toll revenue still remained. What had just been rescinded was the resolution fixing the basis of the division. He then moved that the revenue from the Puniho toll-gate be allocated between the Okato and Omata ridings on a , mileage basis. He then pointed out that j he had gone carefully into the valuation |of the various ridings, and had | tabulated the following results: Hur--1 worth, 0300 acres, valuation £270,778,1 equal to £2O 15s 2d per acre over the' whole riding; Waitara, 40,000 acres, 1 I £390,007, equal to £9 16s 9d per acre: Moa, 107,000 acres, £754,830, equal to £0 8s 4d per acre; Okato, 65,852 acres,l ; £303,909, equal to £4 12s 7d per acre;| : and Omata, 7804 acres, £131,382, equal, to £lO-14s Id per acre; or, putting it another way, Hurworth, owing to her! high valuation pays on an acreage basis one and three-quarter times more than ! Omata, three times more than Waitara, four and a half times more than Moa, 1 and six and a half times more than , Okato, so that to equal a y 2 d rate I in Hurworth, Omata would need to pay %d, Waitara l'/ 2 d, Moa 2i/ t d, and Okato 3'/4d. He further pointed out that the land in each instance was mainly used for farming, and as a compensation for living near town they were heavily taxed. A new valuation in Bome of the ridings would bring about a more equal distribution of the burden. I I Cr. McAllum seconded.

Cr. Andrews said that it was four years since Omata and Okato had been valued, and on a new valuation it would probably increase.

The resolution was then put and carried, only the chairman and Crs. Andrews and Tate voting against it. Cr. Andrews immediately gave notice to move at next meeting that this motion be rescinded.

Cr. Andrews then moved a notice of motion held over from' last meeting, "That a toll-gate be erected in the Omata riding at the corner of Barrett and Main South roads." He stated that he was prompted to move this by residents of Omata and Okato ridings, who would pay tolls to get rid of the special rate. In the two ridings the special rate produced £BOO, whereas the two gates should produce £IOOO, and the ridings would thus be £2OO better off, which could be allocated between the ridings. He wanted to give Omata people a fair chance to have the toll-gate. Cr. Carter: Then you would give the the farmers' butter two tolls to pay' instead of one ? Cr. Andrews: Yes. I

Cr. Tate seconded. He did not like to see one portion go clear, while the other paid. Cr. McAllum objected to this additional tax. He did not know how it could be said Omata ratepayers were in favor of it. They might be if it were placed at the riding boundary near Crompton's. This, however, would only catch Okato riding ratepayers. The motion was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. j