Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1899. Roads Obstruction.

Manawatu Herald, 1 August 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1899. Roads Obstruction.

A very useful bill has just been read a second time in the House of Representatives on the motion of Major Steward. It is entitled " The Roads Obstruction Prevention Bill" and contains five clauses, but it deals with cases of which we have all had practical experience. It is only a few years ago that the main road between Foxton and Levin was obstructed by a gate across it simply to save the adjoining landowner the expense of erecting a fence along his road boundary. The driver of the mail coach had to stop and open this gate which was built in two parts, and therefore excessively awkward to open and shut, and though representations were made to the local authority to have the gate removed nothing was done as the most interested landowner was a member, if not the chairman, of the body in whose hands the direction lay. This bill is to remedy any evils of this character, as it not only enacts that for the future no local authority shall grant permission to place a gate across a road-line in general or frequent use for horse or. wheeled traffic, but it also directs the local authority to send a notice for the removal of any gate if at any time it is shown that the gate has become a public inconvenience. However, as the mover of the Bill stated, it had been found that many applications made to tho Road Boards for removal of gates had not succeeded because persons having seats on the Boards were themselves interested in the matter, but the Bill provides that if the Board declines to entertain the application, then the persons who complained could apply to the Stipendiary Magistrate who was given power to inquire into the matter and if he thought right to issue an order for removal. We think this Bill is distinctly a step in the right direction and a good deal of bother and bad feeling would have been saved had such an Act been on the Statutes before now. We trust therefore that it will pass.