Tolls have spread to country roads.
The ODT reports that when heavy rain resulted in flooding which cut off the bridge approach over the Omarama Stream on State Highway 8 a farmer agreed to let traffic use a detour across a single lane bridge on his property.
But there was a catch – Richard Subtil of Omaramara Station is also treasurer of the local school board and he grabbed the opportunity this presented to raise funds by charging vehicles a $5 donation for using the 1 kilometre detour.
The road was closed for nearly five hours and Subtil raised $930 in that time.
Traffic backed up on both sides of the bridge, on the town’s southern boundary and Mr Subtil was approached about letting light traffic use Omarama Station’s track and bridge.
The farmer spotted the opportunity to boost the school’s funds and agreed.
“We are only a small country school and we want to offer a quality education.
We have to raise about $26,000 a year to provide that by paying teacher aides to assist [Government] funded staff. . .
“Most [drivers] were enthusiastic and happy to pay.”
Some people donated more than $5, with one businessman heading to a meeting in Queenstown so pleased he gave the school $100.
If people are willing to pay $5 for a 1 km detour across a farm track and single lane bridge here, is the charge for the new multi-laned tar selaed toll road north of Auckland too low?
Or is it easier to get people to pay a specific recipient than cough up what’s regarded as a tax?
Homepaddock 
The people paying the farmer could see a clear purpose for the tax. Any tax that is state sponsored disappears into that vast entity known as the slush oops consolidated fund, which makes it harder to collect.
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It’s not just the specific recipient, but the farmer himself standing there, with a smile, and thanking people, and helping the drivers to feel they have done something good (which they have, of course).
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