MORE TOLL-GATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1921, Page 4

MORE TOLL-GATES.

THREE IN EGMONT COUNTY. THE SITES SELECTED. DECISION OF COUNTY COUNCIL. The question of toll-gates in the Egmont County was advanced a step further yesterday, when the Egmont County Council passed a resolution favoring the erection of toll-gates, and the sites for three toll-gates were selected. Cr. Ferguson said toll-gates were not< favored in some quarters, but he considered that the only way to give relief to their own ratepayers in connection with the heavy cost of maintaining the roads was to make outside traffic pay, particularly those merchants from Wellington, Auckland, Wanganui, etc., whai damaged their roads and paid nothing towards their upkeep. The only waw to make them pay was through tol!4 gates. If they were to go on making roads to suit these people they would run their ratepayers intq (the bank* mptcy court. He moved that the coun< cil should erect toll-gates. Cr. O’Brien seconded. In regard to revenue, Cr. O'Brien con« sidered that the Puniho gate had brought! in £BOO per annum, but other members said t-he amount was more than that. Some discussion took place over the cost of erecting the gates, a councillor stating that one could be erected fol £l5O, and that disabled returned sob diers could be got to look after them. Cr. Green considered it would be use* lees to consider the question until they had an idea of the revenue they were likely to obtain. He held that it was too expensive a method of collecting revenue, and that the bulk of the revenue would come from their own ratepayers. If they could obtain sufficient revenue from the gates to relieve their - own ratepayers he would support it. Cr. Ferguson thought disabled soldiers at about £2 per week could be obtained to look after the gates. The resolution was carried, Cr. Green voting against it. It was later decided that the sites of the three gates should be as follows: Eltham Road, between the Te Kiri store and the Patiki Road. Main South Road to Hawera, between the Patiki Road and the racecourse gates. Main South Road to New Plymouth, between Pungarehu and Puniho.