MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 401, 16 August 1918, Page 2

MERCER.

Arising out of the receat disturbance at Mercer, in which Constable Horan had to use his; truncheon in self-defence againaUhtidnslaught of a party of Maoris, another member of the attacking party, named Panapa, was charged at the Mercer Magistrate's Court last Monday before Mr F. K. Hunt S.M., with having assaidted the Constable in the execution of his duty. In consi' oration of the accused having served at Gallipoli and having volunteered for further duty a' the front the Magistrate after warning him only inflicted a fine of £2 and costs.

Mr C. Watkinson writes relative to the decision of the Mercer Town Board to levy a tax on sporting dogs of 10s, the owners of cattle dogs only be liable to a fee of 2s 6d He says:—" There are only about half-a-dozen sporting dogs in Mercer while there are dozens of other dogs no breed but just dogs. The collector told me he receives one shilling for collecting and the collars cost over a shilling so that does not leave 6d for the Board's funds. As aU but one of the members have socalled cattle dogs they want the owners of sporting dogs to pay out of all proportion to what thft members pay themselves The Chairman. told the deputation that waited; to the Board that the reason he supported the motion was tui.t the railway people did not pay any taxes and as some of them owned sporting dogs the ten shilling dog tax would help towards the upkeep of the roads. One of the deputation asked him what about the ' down keep ' of the roads and pointed out that three out of the four members of the Board were the worst ofienders as their cattle and horses wandered on the streets, whilst the ratepayers' money went to pay a man to put the roads in order Of course there is a by law prohibiting all stock from running on the roads but when it hits the members themselves it is a different matter" Mr Watkinson goes on to allude to what he claims is ignorance on the part of the Board members as to the Do 0 ' Tas. He states that one member remarked that if a person stayed more than two days in the town he was liable to pay the tax even if he had his dogs registered elsewhere. The Clerk to the Board was asked to read the Act which set forth that the registration of any dog holds good all over New Zealand for the year. Mr Watkinson concludes : " Needless to say the gentleman who made the statement looked rather small. As there will soon be an election the railway people no doubt will have a say in the matter."