Mananwatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 1902. Broken Laws.

Manawatu Herald, 30 January 1902, Page 2

Mananwatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 1902. Broken Laws.

In ancient history there is an account of a country whose laws “ altereth not ” and were possibly known and understood. In this colony the laws alter continually so that no one knoweth what the law is. With such an example before them it is not wonderful that Local Bodies act similarly until they know not what they have ordered or have omitted to order. Some few years ago any demon could march over an inoffensive district and disfigure it by pasting posters on the spare walls, telegraph posts and other attractive positions. No one liked it, but there was no remedy to prevent the nuisance. When the latest Municipal .Corporations Act was passed in 1900, clause 354 provided that “ No person shall post, paint, affix, carve, inscribe, or exhibit any placard, bill, inscription, advertisement, or notice upon any telegraph or telephone-polo, or on any street, private street, building, strupture, or place within the borough, save only on hoardings or places licensed by the Council for such purpose.” ’ihe Council wisely gave public notice of their intention to.enforce this danse, and some person was named as the person who was the only person who had secured hoardings for such display. We regret to notice that some person, representing a patent medicine, has descended upon the town and in a kind of whitewash has painted np information of his business. He has badly disfigured the town and has cheekily utilised rails and boards forming portion of the Council’s property to exhibit his contempt of their directions. It is but right that the Council should prosecute this person the whereabouts of whom cannot be difficult to obtain as the patentee of the medicine must surely be responsible for the acts of his servants. Not only should a substantial line be asked for, but the cost of removing these announcements should also be paid for, as clause 394 imposes a fine of £SO on every person who wilfully interferes with anything forming part of any property of the Council. Unless action is taken the future state of the borough will be worse than before the Act came into force, as other energetic bill-posters will see the little attention the Council pays to those who set at naught their orders, and will placard the town at their sweet will.

While on the subject of omissions we are surprised that the business men of the town have not risen in protest against the number of hawkers who pay regular visits, without, as far as we can learn, a license to hawk with. It is certain these men must do a satisfactory trade or otherwise they would not return time after time, and it has been generally recognised that they should contribute something towards the working expenses of the town. Whatever 'they take away probably the local storekeeper loses, and as the latter pays rates it is unfair these itinerant merchants should escape scot free.