STRATFORD TOLL-GATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1920, Page 5

STRATFORD TOLL-GATE.

ALLOCATION OF REVENUE. PRESENT SYSTEM OPPOSED, The Inglewood County Council, at its November meeting, decided to ask the Government to appoint a commission to inquire into and adjust between the Stratford and Inglewood counties the revenue received by the Stratford County Council from the toll gate on the Mountain Road at Waipuku. At yesterday's meeting a reply was received from the Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department stating that prior to the 101 l gate being set up a commission was appointed to inquire into the question as to whether or not it should be permitted, and all local bodies interested, from New Plymouth to the Hawera county, were represented. The proposal in the first place was merely for the erection of a toll gate for the permanent improvement of that portion of the Mountain Road in the Stratford county, and all the local bodies concerned, except the Stralford borough, were agreeable to the proposal. To now suggest that the proceeds of the toll should be devoted to a (section of the road not in Stratford county would be to upset- the basis on which the toll gate was originally agreed to. They were perhaps aware (added the reply) that an agreement was entered into with the Stratford County Council that the proceed? of the toll should be devoted exclusively to the permanent improvement of the road, and when the work had been completed, or in the event of the council not devoting the netfc proceeds of the toll to the permanent Improvement of the road, the GovertiorRenern} might at any time in such rase aSoTfsh the toll or reduce the charges foviea if he were satisfied that it was just" and • equitable so to do. In view of the Inglewood County Council's representation that the whole of the road in Stratford county was now in good order, the matter was being further investigated and the district engineer had been requested to furnish a report. Upon, receipt of this report Hie matter would receive further consideration. The chairman said it was unjust that Stratford should have been allowed in the first place to have ail the revenue 4rom the toll gate, as the rest of the road had to bear an equal amount of j traffic. '