"VERY TROUBLESOME"

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13774, 17 October 1942, Page 4

"VERY TROUBLESOME"

DOGS ON THE STRAND

Discussion by Council

Borough Inspector's Report

A statement to the effect that doss were very troublesome on the Strand was made by Cr C. T. McFarlane at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council, when a report by the acting-Borough Inspector (Mr R. Bamberry) dealing with the dog nuisance was being discussed.

The inspector stated in his report that about two months ago he had a complaint from a merchant in Devonport Road about dogs in that street not being under control. At that time he drafted a circular letter detailing that dogs while on the streets of the inner area must be under control on a leash. After that when anyone was seen in the inner area accompanied by a dog not. on a leash a warning was given. This also applied to dogs seen at large whose owners he was able to trace. Approximately 25 warnings had been given.

The common impression was that the restriction regarding dogs kept on a leash applied only to the Strand. As the council knew By-law No- 21 was quite clear in defining the area in which the restriction applied. It >lay down "The Strand and other streets defined in Clause 204 of Bylaw No. 1 and Devonport Road from Elizabeth Street to Eleventh Avenue with all the streets eastward therof." With the exception of the part of the Borough from Elizabeth Street to Eleventh Avenue the part affected was practically what is known as the brick area. This included the Strand, Devonport Road to Elizabeth Street and the parts of Spring Street, Wharfs Street, Hamilton Street, Harington Street, and Mclean Street from the west 100 feet beyond Willow Street to the Strand. He believed that several notices (painted and lettered boards) were displayed on the Strand gardens and under the verandas on the business side. So far as he could see there were now only four on the Strand — two each at widely placed points on the gardens and under the verandas. Two of these were hardly legible, the Aveather having taken off most of the paint and the lettering. There were none on Devonport Road or on any of the other streets where the restriction applies. In 1941 103 dogs were registered, and to date 121 had been registered. Cr E- S. Hylton also • referred to dogs running about the Strand and said that it was heart breaking for the gardener. Warnings should be given and if these were disregarded the owners of the offending dogs should be prosecuted'. The Mayor (Mr L. R. Wilkinson) said it seemed to him unreasonable to force people to have their dogs on a leash in some of the streets covered by the by-laws. On the motion of Cr Hylton it was decided to have the warning notices reinstated.