THE OBNOXIOUS BY-LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1919, Page 5

THE OBNOXIOUS BY-LAW.

FARMERS' UNION STRONG PROTEST. Mr. T. Julian (Warea) brought up the question of the vehicle by-law of the Taranaki county at Thursday's meeting of the Taranaki executive of the farmers' Union. He said it would bear very heavily on the district he represented. All produce from Jigmont county for New Plymouth went through a toll-gate, £rom which Taranki county received over £llOO in tolls. He moved that the Fanners' Union enter a strong protest against the by-law which it is proposed to enforce. The annual charges, he added, ranged from 10s for a gig to £5 for a car, and £ls for a motor lorry. Egtnont produce went by lorries. Mr. Harwell, in seconding, said the agreed that the Union should enter into this protest. New Plymouth, he felt sure, would be the ultimate seaport of Taranaki, but he did not see why the Taranaki County Council should receive power to levy an extortionate tax on all road traffic. It was a kind of super-taJS on all the other charges enforced. The amount to be charged meant that if a motorist went for a trip to New Plymouth for one day he would have to pay the whole annual fee. The same applied to any vehicle, and it might bo a trip which it was essential for a farmer to take. Every county on the borders of Taranaki would have to pay this extortionate impost in addition to the toll, and the whole of the tax went to Taranaki county, a license to use that county's roads. If it were going to be spent m the county which paid, no grumble would be made. The Farmers' Union had been set up to watch the farmer's interests, and had fought very strenuously. If the by-law were confirmed, then the Union should rise and demand the resignation of the County Council. ita The presioent. said that the Union should join with other protesting bodies and not rest until the by-law was expunged. Batepayei'3 in the whole province were alarmed at the tax.

Mr. Washer said lie was strongly in favor of the protest. Mr. Puckeridge reported that at Maketawa, where a branch of the Union was formed a fortnight ago, the members brought up the matter and strongly condemned i g-i impost. Mr. Julian said the farmers in his district were, with one exception, dairy farmers. The by-law would strike them, bard. The motion was put and emphatically and unanimously carried. HAWEiRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROTEST. At the Hawera Chamber of Commerce on Thursday correspondence ivas read from the New Plymouth Borough Council with reference to the Taranaki County Council's proposed vehicles licensing by-law. The president criticised the by-law as most iniquitous, and considered the Chamber should be represented ajt the conference. The council agreed, and the president and Mr. Gumming were appointed the chamber's delegates. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr. Cummins, seconded by Mr. Gilbert, to forward a letter of protest to j&S T*jca.tw,ki Coual® Caimo^