BONES AND BOTTLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 9

BONES AND BOTTLES.

(Jo the Editor.) Sir, —The man with a sack is on the predatory warpath. 1 say it feelingly, betause yesterday, after a visitation byone of the chiffonier brigade, I found

that three blankets had disappeared from a room. Soino vagrant, having assured himself that I was engaged at that endless occupation of a New Zealand housewife washing the family linen, must have sneaked in by the front door, which inadvertently had been left open, and bagged what he could gather, viz., blankets, which are not easy to swear to. In these cases the police are practically useless, not because of inefficiency, but for the notorious fact that the small force of constables will not permit of any member being on the required spot at the psychological moment. Prevention is better

than cure. Therefore, would J . suggest ' that it be illegal for any person to hawk goods or to solicit for tie purchase of bones, bottles, rabbit skins, or other unconsidered trifles without a license, which might be exhibited in the form of a metal badge to be worn en the right arm? This system is in vogue on the Continent, and permits the gendarmerie to keep a roll of the gatherers of trifles. Further, I would suggest that 4he "man with a sack" be shadowed., until his intentions are proved to .' be honourable. Providence, who feeds the sparrows, knows how those that neither toil nor spin live. It is the duty of the paid protectors of property to divide that knowledge.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER.