ROAD MAINTENANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1919, Page 7

ROAD MAINTENANCE.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES. INCREASED SUBSIDY PROPOSED.

A conference of delegates representing most of the counties and boroughs in Taranaki was held in the Atheuseuui Hall, Eltham, on Friday. Those present included: Messrs. C. J. Belcher ami a. L. Campbell (Eltham County Council), li. Dixon (Mayor of Hawera), 8. J. Linn (Hawera County Council), T. A. Bridge, Stevenson and McPhillips (Waimate West County' Council), R. H. Cameron (Stratford Borough Council), E. 11. Pigg'ott (chairman Clifton County), E. Walter (Chairman Stratford Comity Council), J. S. Connett, A. E. Lawrence, A. Morton and R. Ellis (Taranaki County Council), G. W. Taylor, mayor, and J. L, Campbell (Eltham Borough Council), J. Clarke, J. Hill and Parkin (New Plymouth Borough Council), Lyons and Corkhill (Moa Road Board), W. J. Tristram (secretary to the conference), Tosswill (engineer Eltham County Council), Holder (Egmont County Council), and Morgan (Wtyitara). Mr. Belcher presided. The chairman extended a liearty welcome to the delegates and said he hoped some good would result from .the conference. The conference had been called to discuss in the first place what could be done to improve the Taranaki by-law or in case of it being enforced as'it.stood to combat it. He hoped that the conference would be able to devise something better than the present by-law. The cliaii-man then briefly traversed the history of the counties conference which, he said, had originated when Mr. Pease was chairman of the Eltham County. The question of uniform toll gate charges was first considered and better wages and uniform by-laws were dealt with. The conference had drawn up the most comprehensive system of by-laws for vehicles known in the Dominion. He acknowledged the assistance that had been given by others in passing these by-laws, especially by Mr. Tristram, who had acted aa secretary for about five years without pay. Unfortunately some of the local bodies would not come in. The conference wished to have all drivers licensed and were not looking for anything in the way of big fees. They simply wanted to prevent irresponsible and incompetent men from being in charge of motor cars on the roads- Referring to the Taranaki County Council's new by-law he said he had first felt very sore about it and whatever grounds for action there may have been he did not think they, were free from blame in framing such a by-law. The roads in the Eltham County needed attention just as much as they did in Taranaki County, and what was wanted was a by-law that would affect all counties equally. He did not think that ,the Taranaki County's by-law would be able to stand against public opinion. With a view to getting a general by-law ne thought some organisation should be formed and he would move: "That this meeting is of the opinion that the formation of a Taranaki Local Bodies' Association is desirable." ' Mr. Cameron seconded. Mr. Connett said that in 1912 the Taranaki County Council went to the trouble of framing by-laws wliich cost 80 guineas. Since then the by-Jaws had been tested at various times and the Council had come out on top in every instance. In the circumstances it could hardly be expected that they would come into an association on the same footing as other counties. There was some excuse for the attitude they had taken up. They' did not want the benefit of the association without contributing bat they were justified in refusing to contribute towards the full cost of the by-laws brought down.

The chairman said he did not mean to reflect 011 the Taranaki County.

Mr McPhillips said that in 1910 Waimate West in conjunction with Hawera County Council went in for a set of by-laws. As time went on they found that these by-laws needed reconstruction and they gladly came in with the conference. Mr. Clarke said the conditions were so different that it was difficult to make by-laws which would apply to both counties and boroughs. At New Plymouth a man had to have a license before he was permitted to drive a car. He agreed that something should be done to meet the extra cost of maintaining roads as a. result of motor traffic.

Mr. Ellis said they had no power to deal with motor cars till fresh legislation had been passed. They could not license unless a man was plying for hire. At present a ear licensed at Hew Plymouth had the right on a f 1 fee to use any road in the country. The chaftman said the idea was to get legislation, but to get that they must first have an association. Mr. Dixon said that they were in much the same position at Hawera as they were at New Plymouth. They had been working for three years on motor by-laws and they were just about completed when the invitation to attend the conference called by the Eltham County Council came and consequently they did not feel justified in accepting it.

Mr. Taylor said tlie position was very similar at El.tham, but he recognised that there were many respects in which local bodies could unite and work together with advantage and his council (Eltham Borough) might consider the question of joining the association. Tincharges for framing the by-laws ( £lO for boroughs and £3O for counties) seemed to be reasonable. He pointed out that the counties had larger p owe re than boroughs which they could 'override in many ways. He would favor the reI instatement of his borough as part of the association. Personally he thought it a good idea to have an organisation of all local bodies which would assist them in influencing Parliament and getting any special legislation needed passed. Such work as had been done by the conference in the past could not be done for nothing and it was only right that all local bodies benefited should contribute their quota.

Mr. Connett said that the Taranaki County by-laws had not been definitely settled and a conference from the (Jouncil was to wait upon the New Plymouth Borough Council at its nest meeting to discuss the question of substituting toll gates for a vehicle tax.

Mr. Walter said there was an old saying to which he subscribed: "United we stand; divided we fall," and he would like to see an association formed. They could help one another in the settlement of any difficulties and the fee to such body would not be very large. Mr. Cameron (Stratford Borough) said he had been requested by his Council to support an association including both I counties and boroughs. Mr. Connect said he felt sure the associfrtiop a®# ft solution of top; 1

difficult problems. Theto' was the question of -uniform roads, remits to confer, ence, rates on native lands and many other matters on which they could be helpful to each other. The association was a step in the right direction.

The chairman moved that the committee be set up to formulate objects, frame regulations and general procedure and submit them to all local bodies for approval and arrange for a subsequent meeting. .Mr. R. J. Lyon seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Connett said he considered the executive should have wider powers and have the power to deal with remits. Mr. Bridge said this matter could be dealt with later. Mr. Connett. said he mentioned the matter because anything that was to bo done in the framing of remits would have to be done quickly if they were to be dealt with at .the forthcoming counties conference.

Mr. Piggott said that unless tlie counties and borough councils approved no association could be formed. Mr. Walter said .there were some remits which could very well be discussed at the meeting. Mr. Bridge moved that the mayors of New Plymouth, Stratford and Hawera boroughs and the chairmen of file Taranaki, Eltham, Hawera, and Waimate West County Councils form the committee. This was carried.

TIJE TARANAKI BY-LAW. The chairman, referring to the Taranaki by-law said they knew that the Taranaki County Council were levelheaded men, but they did not want the by-law to come into operation. Mr. Connett said he hoped that something better 'would be evolved and as he had stated the matter had not yet been definitely se.ttled. He pointed out. howpver, that no legislation dealing with the matter could be expected for some time. If they could get the New Plymouth Borough Council to agree to toll gates they would be acceptable. Failing this it was their intention to put the bylaws into operation, though not in their entirety, and they would not go to extremes. He did not think they had much to fear from his Council.

Mr. McPhillips said he was opposed to the Taranaki County's by-law. Suppose all local bodies had and, took the same powers it would cost to take a large motor lorry through the whole of the counties about £2OO. There was a better way. The first thing was to put down roads suitable .to the traffic. On tarred roads motor traffic was no worse than any other. It was impossible, he quite realised, to make suitable roads out of ra.tes and provision should be made for obtaining loans. They could not go to the Government and ask for such an increase of subsidy that by granting it it would receive the condemnation of another section of the community.- He thought that they should get the Government .to give tliem the right to raise a certain amount by taxation. He would suggest that the local bodies be allowed to collect to 10 per cent, on motor tyres. A voice: Not nearly enough. Mr. McPhillips said lie would further suggest an increase of the subsidy to on all rates. What they wanted was unanimity. If a. wheel tax were adopted they did not know where it I would end. He approved of neither toll gates nor wheel tax. He would move that this meeting of delegates of local bodies in Taranaki request the Government to levy a tax of 10 per cent, on all motor .tyres, that the Government, be asked to give a 25 per cent, subsidy on all rates up to 13d; further that the Government be asked to bring in legislation abolishing all toll gates and wheel taxes.

A voice: You want to take that in three resolutions.

Mr. Connett said it was crear .that the best way was to refer those matters to the executive. He condemned the proposal concerning motor .tyrps 011 the ground that it would not yield sufficient. Mr. Cjameron said there were COO motor cars licensed in Stratford district and allowing that a taxi used 20 tyres a year and an ordinary farmer's ear one set and valuing the average tyre at £lO (selling price) a sum of £3OOO would be available for roads if a 10 per cent, tax was imposed. He knew that his figures were correct. The Stratford County Council got £ISOO and the Stratford Borough £'2oo in subsidy from the Government and if they asked for an increased subsidy they would not get nearly the amount that they would get by the suggested .tax.

Mr. Clarke said he thought the figures high and computed that only about £I4OO would be derived from the tax.

The chairman said the subsidy paid to his county was about £I2OO and if Mr. McPhillips' proposal was carried it would mean a considerable increase, which, instead of being spent on the roads, would probably go to the relief of rates. This they deserved, for they had spent a lot of money on their roads. He suggested that Mr. McPhillips' withdraw his motion and permit the executive to work out a fair basis.

Mr. McPhillips consented to .the with dratval of his motion.

Mr. Campbell referred to the damage done to roads by people travelling to races and suggested that part of .the tax on totalisutors should go to the upkeep of roads.

Mr. Clarke said that if all racing telegrams were charged urgent rates they would have all the money they needed. Mr. Stevenson said that many failed 1o realise that the main trouble arose .uom the fact that the purchasing power of the sovereign had decreased and they wanted to impress upon the Govern-

men.t the necessity for increasinc the subsidy.

Mr. Walter held that the subsidy should be on all rates collected uo to l%d. 1

Mr. Clark said they should not concern themselves with anything but main roads and the subsidy should be on main road mileage. The allocation of the toll gate money was unfair. He had to pay 2s (id for travelling seven or eight miles in the S.tratford County and lie could travel three times that distance in the taranaki County without paying anything. They should appeal ,to the Government for a subsidy on main roads. Mr. McPhillips said there would be the difficulty' of defining main roads. Mr. Comwtt said he dill'ored very much from Mr. McPhillips and his opinion was that the Government should levy a Dominion tyre .tax! which should be allocated on a provincial basis, the amount received by one province to be distributed according to what was considered fair to the various counties by the association.

The chairiunn said he was convinced that the solution of the whole thing was an increased subsidy, but they would never get the increase while the toll gates existed. He favored a £ for f subsidy up to %d. They should show a united front to the Government if they wanted to gain their ends.

Mr. Lyons said the Taranaki County Council had been driven to extreme measures. He thought Mr. McPhillips gave a good solution of the problem. They had good roads in Waimate West and the rate was no higher than in the Taranaki County. It' the Taranaki County Council's by-law eaine into force they would get iitiOOO over and above their present income. _ Mr. Dixon said it had been stated distinctly to the Taranaki County Council that if they would stay their hands such a conference as they were holding that day would be called together and an effort would be made to assist the Taranaki County Council out of their difficulty.

Mr. Lyons said the promise was made conditional upon the by-law not being confirmed. It had been confirmed and that altered the whole position. The chairman moved that the committee meet in .the afternoon and formulate ft scheme to be placed before the conference either the same day or later.

Mr. Connett said that in not putting the by-law into operation till October 1 they had fulfilled the spirit of the promise to the deputation. The chairman asked if Mr. Connett Would extend the time for operation to •January 1 so as to give them an opportunity to bring the matter before the Dominion Conference and Parliament. This Mr. Connett did not agree to. Mr. McPhillip seconded the motion, Which was carried.

INCREASING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY.

| Later the committee recommended that in order to abolish toll gates and eliminate objectionable traffic by-laws and to enable local bodies to successfully cope with the large and increasing motor traffic the Dominion Conference vigorously urge upon the Government the necessity of increasing the present local body subsidies to 10s in the £1 on all general rates collected; that as a means to providing the necessary funds the Government be qsked to sufficiently increase (1) the existing motor tyre tax and (2) existing .totalisator tax. Mr. Morton, in moving that the recommendation be adopted, said that none of tliem wanted either toll gates or a vehicle tax and the proposal was the best way to achieve their purpose. They were faced with a heavy increased motor traffic, which was going to further increase and some means must be devised for making this kind of traffic bear the cost of upkeep of roads properly chargeable to it. The tax on motor tyres would be collected chiefly through the Customs.

Mr. Walter, in seconding, said the .tax on the totalisator was fair. It was the pleasure .traffic which annoyed the ratepayers.

Mr. Campbell said the main thing was the subsidy and he hoped the conference would succeed in getting the increase. The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

It was further decided tha.t the remit be sent through the Elthara County Council to the Dominion Conference. Mr. Morton said they shonld ask every council in the provincial district of Tarauaki to support the principle eon tained in the remit. It was decided to ask them to do this. Mr. Clarice moved tha.t a remit be sent to the Dominion Conference that toll gates be abolished or that there should bo an equitable division of the revenue so collected be.tween the different local bodies.

The chairman suggested that they leave that to Mr. Wilkinson's Toll Gate Bill They should concentrate upon the one thing and leave side issues alone. Mr. McPhillips said he was in accord with this. They wanted subject matter for the next conference and what would serve them better than toll gates?

As a result of some remarks . made by Mr. Lyons .the chairman of the Taranaki County Council explained that most of the ratepayers in his county would prefer toll gates to the tax: and the former would no doubt be substituted if the New Plymouth Borough Council would agree to withdraw opposition. The conference terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.