LICENSES AND PERMITS IN THE BOROUGH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9088, 13 May 1908, Page 5

LICENSES AND PERMITS IN THE BOROUGH.

REPORT TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. The following report bearing on the issue of licenses and permits for the past year was read by the ActingTown Clerk at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening:— Auctioneers: Eight in the Bovouorh, eight licenses issued, fees £313. Carriages: Plying for hire in Borough, 24; licenses issued, 12; to be issued. 5; five carriages will remain unlicensed. Drivers: Plying for hire, 21; licenes issued, 21. Expresses: For 20 expresses plying, 9 licenses have been issued, and one is to be issued, leaving 10 unlicensed. Buildings: Permits to the number of 110 have been issued for either new buildings or alterations, representing increased property to the value of £66,858. Fees received and recivable £154 ss. I am of the opinion that in many instances the values stated, when obtaining permits, were under the true value, in which case the Borough is suffering a loss of revenue. The best check upon such leakage is to insist upon a production of evidence of the contract price. Plumbers: There are 7 plumbers and journeymen practising their trade in theßorough. One has been licensed, leaving six unlicensed. Drainlayers and journeymen drainlayers : There are four of these carrying on works in the borough, two only being licensed. Drainage: Number of licenses issued, 97. Wa*;or connections: Number ot permits issued, 66. Buildings for public meetings: There are four such in the borough, two b°ing licensed, the Exchange and Town Halls remaining unlicensed. Scaffolds:' Seven permits issjed. Hoardings: One license issued. Pound fees: Total collected, £63 Is 7d. Dogs: Fees received, £4O ss. Motor vehicles: Cars licensed, 14; cycles, 22. Billiard rooms: Two in the borough, one licensed and the other not. Hawkers: Two licenses issued during the year. Circuses: One permit issued. Second-hand dealers: One license issued. Sales of meat: Licenses issued, 6. The report concluded: —"The report contains in itself some interesting figures , particularly those relating to the erectiun of new buildings, pointing as it does to the growth of the borough. I desire to call the ' attention of the Council to tiie numbre of cases where persons requiring to be licensed have neglected to become licensed, and an excuse cannot bo put forward by these persons that they have had no notice of the fact that they require to be licensed or that they are ignorant of such a requirement, inasmuch as in each case public notice was given of the necessity for licensing and a printed form of application was sent to each individual. The prosecuting officer of the borough has full power to take proceedings for breach of the by-laws and unless the Council expressly desires otherwise, proceedings will be instituted after the pre. sentatio'n of this report to enforce the necessary licensing forthwith." The report was adopted, the Town Clerk being instructed to give defaulters against the by-laws regarding licenses full opportunity to become licensed before taking legal proceedings.