LICENSING TRAVELLING SIDE SHOWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7975, 28 February 1906, Page 5

LICENSING TRAVELLING SIDE SHOWS.

MATTER DISCUSSED BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A report was read at the Borough Council meeting, last evening, from the Town Clerk, wherein he stated that at the recent Mastertoti A. and P. Association's Show, a number of side showH were allowed on the grounds, and he had sent an account to the Secretary of the Association for payment of the license fees, amounting to £lO, but he understood, that the Secretary had been unsuooessful in his endeavours to collect from the travelling showmen, and the amount had not 7et been paid. The A. and P. Association, as owners of the ground, wereresponsible. and he, therefore, referred the matter to the Council to decide whether furtjher aotion should 'be , taken. He wished to point out that 7 if any circus or show visited the town the proprietors were called; upon to pay the lioense fees, in addition to any ground rental that they paid. He understood that shows' of suoh description had been run in other places without being licensed, and,[also, in Masterton in past years, but the matter only came under his notice at the close of last year's Show, when it was too late to take action. In conclusion, the Clerk expressed the opinion that be did not think these side shows and the many gambling and swindling devices permitted on the grounds were any credit to the Association, or any good to the town, 'and not on the remotest degree calculated to promote the objects of an Agricultural and Pastoral Association. v The Mayor stated that the A. and P. Association had praotioally taken over the work of the Council by . allowing these shows on their grounds, and they had not oolleoted the license fees. The Secretary of the A. and P. Association had endeavoured to get the fees, but could not do so, owing to the proprietors of, the shows leaving the town too soon. It would not be fair to extract the fees from the Association on this occasion, but it would be wise for the Council to pass a resolution warning the Association not to allow travelling shows on their grounds again without collecting license fees. If they did so the Association would be liable for the fees to the Borough Council. He"moved in that direction. Or Morris seconded the motion, and endorsed toe Mayor's remarks. Other Councillors spoke in a similar strain, and the motion was then carried. ' 1 '