DOG REGISTRATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 683, 3 February 1881, Page 2

DOG REGISTRATION.

To the Editor of the Wairarapa Daily-

Sir—There lina been a good deal said and written .ahout the iniquity Do'a Tax, and the Wairarapa'Dauy'libs held up the County Councils of Wairarapa West and the Hutt to public praise and commendation for their high perception (i? moral dutjes in dpclining to appoint Registrars, I- should like''to point out that wilful breaking of the law is not the chief end and aim of even County Councils, and may ultimately be attended-with' disastrous consequences. The Do? Aot of 1880 providps heavy, penalties for all owners of unregistered dogs, whether such dogs'are exempt frrtm .payment of the 10s fee or not, therefore including rabbit dogs; it also gives informers a chance of recovering one-half of the penalties, gjid provides for destroying dogs without a [registered label on. In addilionto 'this' the Act makes it compulsory on County and Borough Councils ' and .other local bodies mentioned to appoint Registrars and offices,.and provide labels and collars, and it js this part of the Act that these defaulting County Councils have broken. Now,' there is 'a good opportunity -for any energetic gentleman or small capital to start a now local'industry by.'layinginformations against owners'of dogs all round the Road Board Districts-one inforrnatioii per dog. would soon ieach-.ttj thousands—and claiming a m/Mety of tjje tax, For observe that tho law provides for appointing Registrars, too., and "a penalty for non : regi.at.ering,'without 'any remedy, in case of tlie non-appointraeiit of a registering ofHopr, '" ''■-.■■ . : - . Thpndhe'unlucky would, have tile satisfaction of dealing -with tho County Oouuoils mentioned in the sanjie way the Customs authorities arc treating Dr Harding' : aiid the. Mayor of Wellingtonover those uubranded cigars,. '. ■'." Let the Councillors put that in'their. pipe and smoke it, " ■"•

"••I"omitted to mention-that all Maori dogs are''liable-tq r'egist'raJJQii, and.are not_ exempted; as 'stated by'the : West' Waivarapa Gounty Ooun'qil. ' ... ~..-... Yours,-Ao-, . : ■•••' .■■'•'.', '.Grower, '.- (The fitiea ■ inflicted would,t we believe, be* merely : nominal ones, and tho informer would get riio'te'kicks than halfpence.—' ED..w.ft].:..:. : :'C;..; - >. •• i