WANTON DAMAGE DONE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 241, 2 October 1939, Page 3

WANTON DAMAGE DONE

A.A. SIGNS TORN DOWN PATROL’S ’WORK NULLIFIED EAST CO AST PR MV A LENOFJ Wanton damage causing recurring expenditure cf a large sum if money is occurring to the sign-posts erected by the resident Automobile Association patrol, Mr. G. V. Merton, for the guidance of motor traffic. Mr. Merton recently undertook an extensive tour of the area included in liis patrol and! spent a considerable time in replacing and erecting signposts. in the past 14 days 15 of these posts have been torn down and smashed. . This thoughtless damage is prevalent on the IKiast Cbast, where an irresponsible section of the community seems to regard the posts as fair game for hoodlums. Air. Merton lias a large area to cover jn the course of his duties as patrol and a great deal of his time- is taken up in replacing and renewing damaged signs. The reason for the wanton damage is somewhat obscure, as in practically every instance the signs are torn down iuuh. in soino c-iises, the posts arc torn up, but the damaged property is not taken away but allowed to stay on the roadside. In practically every instance the damage done is of such a nature that it could not lie clone by wandering stock.