WAIHI TOLL GATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 3

WAIHI TOLL GATE.

i\OT TO BE ABOLISHED. A proposal to abolish the toll-gate in the Wai'hi Riding of the Clifton County Council was brought up by Cr. B. H. l'igott at yesterday's meeting of the Council. The secretary of the Uruti Settlers' Association forwarded the following resolution passed at a meeting of the Association on August 2S: "That this association strongly protests against, the removal of the Vv'aihi toll-gate, owing to the enormous crennnt of expense your Council will have l 0 meet in I lie near future in renewing the main north road, also the e.wesive damage that has been done to the roads by the recent floods.'' A petition wa.s received from '2G settlers in the Okau district protesting against the .proposed abolition uf the toll-gate. y Cr. iPigott said he considered a tollgate was the wong way to collect a rate, and it would be better to have a rate collected in the ordinary way. It was an antiquated method of procuring revenue. If it 'had not Been for the damage caused by the floods the fin-

ancial position of the district would be better. As it was, lie thought the settlers would be prepared to pay an extra rate rather than have a toll-gate, and therefore be would move that the tollgato )h: -.ibolislied. Or. 11. M. Vitnlie seconded turin*. He Vi'a« opposed to toll-gates, but n = far »■; the tVafhi Ending was concerned lie ecuid see no other way out. Cr. W. Hicks said that if t'io toll-gate was. removed the riding would be bankrupt. The settlers were heavily rated now, and if the toll-gate was abolished much more money would have to be obtained from the settlers. Cr. S. J. Ker.nington opposed the motion. He did not like toll-gates, but as far as he could see the Council could not do without fluem. The chairman (Cr. A. M. Bower) said he would like to see the toll-gate removed, but at present he could not sec his way to support the motion. At last meeting the rate had been raised by a farthing, and it would be extraordinary if at the same time that tins was done the toll-gaite was abolished. In view of the large extra traffic now on the roads i he thought the toll-gate should be kept. AT great deal of the motor traffic which was cutting up the roads did not belong to ratepayer. l ),' and he thought it only right that this traffic should help tc pay for road maintenance through the medium of the toll. 1U actWa WW Iwt en iU voiort, "