WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 124, 19 October 1914, Page 3

WAIWAKAIHO BRIDGE.

To tlie Editor. Sir, —1 have boon waiting to see if anvono would reply to your leader on tile V\ iiiwakaiho bridge. Probably most of tlie ratepayers, like myself, are too busy to span- the time. Well, Sir, to my mind it is just about the meanest attempt to "put all the burden on the other fellow" that I "nave come across for a long time. You don't seem to care who pays for the road as long as the town people have the free use of it, you suggest a special rate. I think wo are paying a special rate, perhaps yours would be "extra special." The amount which I pay to the County Council this year will be equal to three pence per milt; for every mile I travel on the County road. That would bo a good deal more than one is likely £o pay in tolls. Then I would like you to give me any good reason why the farmers should. have to pay the whole of the cost of maintaining the road. The Dumber of ratepayers in the county has not increased much during the last ton or lifteen years, so that the increased traffic and consequent wear and tear to tho roads is from non-ratepayers. I think ilic Coinuil are quite right in deciding to erect a toll gate, and feel sure the majority of the ratepayers will back tliem up in tho matter. You also suggest that the Ilorough Council might .increase their contributions. Well, that ,would not be fair to a large number of I the townspeople. You would make a '(large number pay who never use the bridge, and let those oil easy who use the bridge most. I no!ice that tho Chamber of Commerce is going to try to influence the Council in tho matter. If tliey do, T hope they won't nave much luck. The ratepayers have put the councillors there to look after their interests first, and it is to be hopod that our confidence has not l)oen misplaced. Tf the traffic keeps on increasing during t.h« next two years, as it has done in t,ne past, toll gates will be a necessity. Farmers cannot keep on paying anil trying to look pleasant.—l am, etc.. ]). McKEXZIE, ' Loppertou, October 14.