The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1919. AN INTOLERABLE BY-LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1919. AN INTOLERABLE BY-LAW.

The Counties Amendment Act, 1915, must be regarded as one of those specimens of ill-conditioned legislation that are only too fre-quently-evidenced in the Statutes. This is emphasised by the fact that only two local bodies in Taranaki which, under the Act, are entitled to license vehicles are the Taranaki and Clifton County Councils. How it came about that only eleven county councils in the North Island were given this power is matter for conjecture, as it would seem that if the provision was necessary for these favore 1 bodies it would be equally neces j sary for all others. Presumably the object in view was to ensure that heavy and extraordinary traffic should bear its fair share of the burden of repairing the wear and lear of the roads, but it was left lo Governor-in-Couucil (the Government) to frame the by-laws under the Act, and these were accordingly gazetted on November, 1915, the fees for the various vehicles being set forth, 'the only ex-*< ceptiong being bicycles, handcarts, wheelbarrows and vehicles carrying mails only. These annual license fees vary from ten shillings for a gig to fifteen pounds for a motor omnibus or char-a-banc, though licenses issued after September 30 are at half rate. It should be noted that these license fees are in addition to any other license fee payable under any other by-law made by;.

the Taranaki County Council, and that the word roads includes every road in the county —metalled, formed or otherwise. By-law No. 2 provides that only those vehicles which at the time they use a road within the County of Taranaki are owned, driven, ridden, controlled, managed or propelled by a person whose usual place of abode is situated within the area which comprises the following boroughs counties, road districts and town districts: Borough: New Plymouth, "Waitara, Jnglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera; Counties of Taranaki, Clifton, Stratford, Egmont; Eltham, Whangamomona, Hawera, Waimate, Moa Road District, Opunake, Manaia, Normanbv and Kaponga Town Districts It will thus be seen that the by-law has a, far-reaching effect, affecting the owners of vehicles throughout thd province. It is not. therefore, surprising to find that the New Plymouth Borough Council has already circularised all the local bodies and chamber? of commerce , in Taranaki advocatirg speedy, concerted action with reference to this drastic penalising on the part of the Taranaki County Council in putting the by-law into force. There can be no question that the imposition of the proposed fees would entail considerable hardship, especially in view of their being over and above existing license fees and toll gatf, charges, and if the same power is extended to the other county councils in Taranaki (which may justly be claimed) the position would be intolerable. Admitting that the upkeep of county roads is an intricate problem to solve, it is man: festly absurd to impose on occasional users of the roads an annual license fee as well as payment of tolls. Motor lorries have become a great boon, displacing the heavy wagons that did so much damage to the roads. Motor cars are helping materially to the prosperity of the province, and are especially serviceable in conveying people at a distance to all gather ings, but if the proposed by-law is enforced it will be imposing a big penalty on these vehicles running over county roads It must be remembered also that if the Clifton County takes the same action as the Taranaki County the position will be still worse. «If the operation of the license fees were confined to the Taranaki County there might not be so much objection, but even then it would be oppressive. Evidently the object is to catch outside vehicles and make them pay. It might be that a motor coach from. Stratford or any of the other towns used the county road but twice in the year, and to demand £7 10s for such user is beyond all reason. It is bad enough to have to pay toll fees in addition to rates, but it is beyonrl bearing to have this fresh impost forced upon the public. It is very unfortunate that the Taranaki County Council should lend itseif to a proposal that must cause bitter resentment and estrangement of the other local bodies in the province, just at a time, too, when all the portents were in the opposite direction. Only a few weeks ago the other parts of Taranaki responded magnificently in connection with the poll for harbor development which, while advantageous to all ihe province, must be of particular benefit to those living closest to the harbor. For too long has there been disunity, mistrust and suspicion in Taranaki, which can never progress or prosper as it should whilst there exists such a condition of affairs. Now more than ever do we want unity, co-operation and enlighten-

Ed vision on the part of our pub-, lie bodies and leaders We certainly don't want reaction and retrogression. The confirming of the by-law would simply mean the re-enactment of the wheel tax that our forefathers, in thtir wrath, forcibly did away with a hundred years or more ago. We know not a single argument in favor of the proposed by-law, but a great many against it, and we hope the council will, on second thoughts, do what other progressive county councils in Taranaki have done without demur—carry out their road-making and tar-sealing out of revenue legitimately raised. i