ABOLITION OF TOLL-GATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1918, Page 5

ABOLITION OF TOLL-GATES.

DISCUSSION, BY EGMONT COUNTY, COUNCIL There was considerable discussion at the Egmont County Council meeting yesterday on the question of tollgates, on a copy of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson's Tollgates Abolition Bill being placed before the meeting.

Cr. Harvey considered that the council should support the Bill, as all roads should be free.

The chairman said that if toll-gates were abolished he did not see how they would get tarred roads, because the settlers would not agree to find the money to tar roads if they did not receive the revenue .from the toll-gates. Cr. McNeill considered that toll-gates phould be abolished, a sentiment that met with the approval of she majority of the other members.

It was pointed out that in July, 1917, the previous council had passed a resolution favoring the Bill, and had appointed an deputation to go to Wellington.

Cr. McNeil] said that the time had come when they should oppose tollgates, which should be wiped out. The Waimate County Council had no tollgates, but had tarred roads, having borrowed £63,000 for the purpose. In the interests of ratepayers, toll-gates should either be abofcshed or else Egmont should put up two toll-gates of their own-

The chairman said that the Waimate County Council could hardly be cited as an example, Ibecause they had a short distance of main road, whereas Egmont County Council had 40 miles. He did not see how the Egmont County could tar roads without the assistance of the toll revenue.

Cr. Cornish said that the toll Si&rges of 5s and 3s at the Pimiho toll-gate were an extortion, as there was no tarred road.

Cr. O'Brien ftrtored toll-gates. Tourists with motor-cars and owners of motor-lorries, who were not ratepayers, tore up the roads. He thought settlers would soonev pay extra cartage if any caused by the tolls than pay the extra rate necessary if there were no tolls. •

The chairman pointed out that if tollgates were abolished both Taranaki and Eltham County would at once apply for a Commission to be set un and get Egmont saddled with an annual subsidy towards the upkeep of the road. Cr. Cornish said that if the toll-gates were not abolished Egmont should put np two of their own, and so get back x little of what they had paid to others in the nast.

Cr Holder coriisidered that the other councils would not lose the revenue secured from the toll-gates without a big fight, and the only way to meet th» position was to put up toll-gates of their own. They had got to get ta Work to put the roads in order, and the only wav to do so was by raising a loan, and the toll revenue would assist in meptinsr the interest on this.

CV McNeill said that prior to the erection of the tolls a deputation from the Hawera County Council had waited on the Waimate Council and had asked for a subsidy of £4OO, failing which the toll-gates would be erected. Waimate, however, only offered £3OO, and for the sake of £IOO the tolls were erected. The chairman said that the same thing had happened between Egment and Taranaki. Taranaki had asked for a ■subsidy of £250 ,and he blamed th« then council for not accepting it, because, as the result of the erection of the toll they were now being hied to tne extent of nearly £llOO per annum. He considered that neither Waimate nor Egmont could growl, as Eltham and Taranaki had made them fair offers, and it was an error of the fourth dimension on the part of tho old councils not to have accepted them. Cr. Harvev considered ETgmont should have a third of the revenue. The chairman said that they had asked Taranaki for 20 per cent,, but had beon refused. Cr. Cornish then moved that the council support Mr. Wilkinson's Abolition of Tolls Bill, and, failing the passage of that measure, take the accessary steps to erect toll-gates of their awn.

Cr. McNeill seconded. Cr. O'Brien moved as an amendment that the council' do not-support the Bill at present. The chairman seconded the amendment, which was lost, and the motion was carried, and will be forwarded to the member for the district.