BY-LAWS AND FOOTPADS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 16, 13 July 1911, Page 7

BY-LAWS AND FOOTPADS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Your report of the Borough Council proceedings re by-laws and bicycles makes very refreshing reading, and naturally sends one to a dictionary to ascertain the meaning of words. T have, just risen from a perusal of "'Webster,'-' which 1 can recommend as interesting reading, particularly for borough councillors. I have discovered that a "footpath" once meant "a narrow path for pedestrians only." Consequently I think I must get a newer edition, as mine is too antiquated, being fully fourteen years old and quite out of 'touch with modern language, the New Plymouth meaning evidently being that ''a footpath is a bicycle track, and possibly a motor track." T should like to compliment Cr. Mannix upon the polite apology lie tendered for venturing to trouble our City Fathers with such commonplace people as pedestrians and their rights, but 1 think he might have gone one better when he was about it and moved to amend the by-laws in the direction of conferring on all pedestrians the right to take the roadway when a bicycle is coining along. There is, however, always a bright side, and so we can afford to be profoundly thankful that our worthv town clerk did not take offence at the cheek of Cr. Mannix, hut. remember, don't do it again, Cr. Mannix! But how can T refer to the courage (?) of Crs. Morev and Buxton in stinting what tliev would do and would not do under certain circumstances? Well, all T can do is to piously hope that some day we may get a more sane lot of men as our Borough Council, and that dear "Ben" will survive his present squelching, and flourish as of yore. Bravo, Cr. Clarke! May your shadow never grow less, and may a. modicum of the common-sense opinions you expressed '"mil an entrance into ithe omniums of your fellow councillors! Tt is evident that no great distance divides law-makers from lawbreakers. The poor pedestrian might, well exclaim with Or. Mannix, "And where do we come in?" Yes: echo answers where? Dear fellow footpad, a parting word: Co your way in peace, only keep clear of bicycles and give them the road, exercising thankfulness that you are permitted to exist.—l am. etc.. A FOOTPAD.