DOG TAX COLLECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 13 February 1907, Page 2

DOG TAX COLLECTION.

The .Mayor told the Jiorough Councillors on Monday nigiit, that" the dog tax collector was ninth exercised over the fact that owners of dogs were popping the dogs into -sacks and the sacks into the sea in order to escape the payment of the tax. JUr Tippius, he Baidj a very zealous ollicer who had by his vigorous collection of the tax fully justified his appointment by clearing the town of Useless curs, wanted to know if he could sue for the fees in tnese cases. Cr, Uutchen stated that he would in future object to the paying of four shillings per dog to the collector. Jn answer to Cr. Webster, the town clerk said Lliat about £BO ha,d, bqen collected, and that before Mr Tippius' appointment about HI) I per annum was collected. Cr. JJehringer echoed Cr. llutchcn's complaint (hat the Council was "becoming' verv unpopular over the matter."" The .Mayor considered the destruction of the useless dogs fully justiiied the payment of tne higher fee. Cr Monleath objected to the remarks of Crsl Jlulchcn aud Uellrin«er thai "the ratepayers was getting sick of the Council in this matter.'' He would like it placed on record that previously the Council had got "lieartilv sick of the ratepayers" and the number of useless curs in the streets. Then the evergreen subject of dogs was passed by for a time Mr K. J. Uvenden wrote timt he had left a dog, registered with the Clifton County Council. tl i .Mrs !•'. Uvenden's house in Mew Plymouth to be eared for during his absence, Mr Tippius. dog tax collector, called and demanded the sum of 1(1/. Mrs Ovcndeu | said Ihe dog was registered, and did mil belong to her, but the collector refused to believe her. As a result Hi" f"'' "f I"/ was uuul. Mr Oven deu now applied for a return of ihe The 'Town clerk said Mr Ovenden had told him Ihe fee hail been tendered at the Clifton county olliee but <''"■>' I""' »ot been reelv t„ take it' Cr. Monteath moved 1.1 7/ii be re lurneil. and 2/li be r, :i„e,|' I',-,- (],„ collar. This was defeated, after nearly leu ininules discussion, and the mat, ter was referred to the works commit-