FENCING IN NEW PLYMOUTH. PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1919, Page 4

FENCING IN NEW PLYMOUTH. PLYMOUTH.

QUESTION OP ERECTION OP TOLL-GATES. A deputation from the Taranaki Cotffity Council, consisting of Crs. J. S. Con* nett (chairman) and J. Wooldridge, waited on tho Borough Council last night tq discuss the question of the Borough Council consenting to the erection of toll-gates in the vicinity of the borough boundaries, in order to assist the county in its present position, pending the Gov* eminent bringing in gome sort of scheme for the whole Dominion for the taxation of motor tyres. , The Mayor welcomed the deputation. Mr. Connett, after apologising for the absence of Cr. Morton, said the deputation had 1 come at the request of the County Council to ask if the borough would raise any objections to the county putting up toll-gates. He said that, notwithstanding the wheel tax, many of the county ratepayers favored toll-gates at a fairer means of raising .revenue, and he thought tho Borough Council would favor toll-gates in preference to a wheel tax. In adopting the wheel tax the council had been actuated by a desire to call general attention to, and protest against, the present position in regard to the maintenance of main roads, un4»r which the county had. to carry a large amount of foreign traffic for Which it got no compensation. The justice of the claims set out by the County Council was recognised by the recent conferences of local bodies, who had promised to stand by the county in endeavoring to get the Government to take action in the matter. The recent conference at Eltham had decided to make united representation to the Government to hare a tyre tax imposed. That was all very well, but with the best of good luck the county would not get anything from fuch a source for a long tune, and in the meantime the position was serious. If the county could not get some guarantee that revenue for the upkeep of the roads, or the payment of interest on loans, would be forthcoming from some other source, he was afraid that the ratepayers would tnrn down the proposals for a loan for tar-sealing the main county roads, as they did not believe they should pay for the upkeep of roads for outside traffic and get nothing done to their own roads. From the opinions expressed by the large and influential deputation which recently waited on the council, in prefer* ence for toll-gates rather than a wheel tax, and in view of the Mayor's remarks that the borough had never been approached on the matter of the erection of toll-gateß, the council thought it woold be well that representatives should come and ask the borough to consider the matter. Mr. Connett pointed out that the condition of the main roads was of vital interest to both county and borough, and to meet the requirements of the position the county thought that the roads should be tar-sealed. He felt that untos they could assure their ratepayers that there was some means of collecting revi enue from those who used the roads, there was a serious danger that they would not sanction the tarring loan. Mr. Connett concluded by remarking that while in the past the two bodies had been somewhat selfish in their own separate interests, he thought the happens ings of the last few weeks had helped to break down the reserve and aloofness there had been

Or. Wooldi-idge, in supporting Or, Con* nett, expressed an opinion that toll-gates had conu more into favor during the past few years than they were previously. He did not think any motorists objected to paying a toll, provided they got a good road. He thought if the toll-gates propound were erected the rates at pitteni charged by the county would be reduced, and be more on the basis of the charges made by the Eltham County. No tut was ever quite fair to all, but toll-gates were the fairest, as they caught the people who used the roads most. The Mayor said the Borough wag in no way antagonistic to the county, and the action he had taken in calling representatives of the local bodies together had raised interest in the question, and called general attention to it. There were some tilings the borough wanted to know, and they were: (1) What tollgates the county would want to erect; (2) how long the gate? would be required; and (3) what the gchedqle ot charges would be. Mr. Connett said the 'council had not gone into the details, as they desired to know first whether the borough would oppose the erection of toll-gates. Those things could be arranged later. Though the question had not been fully considered, he thought gates would be required on the Devon Road, in the vioisity of Egmont Road, probably two on the Mountain Road, and one on the Junction Road about Petrie'g corner. In regard to the Puniho gate, they might cousidtf the erection of another gate near Omatft, and reduce the charges at both gates, «r move the present gate up to Omata. "II the tarring loan was carried it would be four years before the work wa* completed, and the gates would be required for at least that time. He did not\now whether they could do without, them then. Other counties had not done so, In reply to Cr. Collis, Mr. Connett stated that in the event of the Government coming to the assistance of the county by imposing a tyro tax, all tollgates would bo abolished. He took it that that would be one of the cortditloMi on which a general tax would be MF posed. | The Mayor pointed out that the erebtion of the gates as suggested would penalise New Plymouth for the purpose of keeping up a road between InelewoOd and Stratford.

Mr. Connett said the position grata because the county got no share of the revenue from the Stratford-toll-gate, which he thought they should. He toheved the revenue from the gate, wa» £I7OO to £IBOO per annum,' an 4 if the county got of that it would help them considerably. A question was asked as to the post- 1 toon should the Bill for the abolitiO»"W ,? ri ® passed by Parliament, and Mr. Connett replied that hr did.not think there was much chance of inch a measure being passed unless provision was made for raising by other means the chnrm'l P resen ' secured through that

Some further discussion took place, Jo fwTJ 86 °l which Mr. Connett «ld tuat if the wheel tax had to be .put into operation it might first be made to apply i 8 motor lorries trading to . Plymouth, i« -which caw t|wro ■ would be no hardship ou owners, M the tax could be passed on the hirers of the vehicles. He admitted that there might 0 so ? lc hardship when applied to owners of private cars who came into the Co sl?v onl y on rare occasions. The Mayor promised that the eounoil would consider the question when they had a full meeting, and communicate m their decision later, ™ Mr. Connett thanked tho Mayor arid council for the manner in which the deputation had been received, and the question discussed, and repeated his hope that the borough would see its way not to oppose the council in the matter. Joe deputation then withdrew.