CAMPING AT SUMNER.
TO Till* ElllTOli OK THK I'f'KSS. «Sir, —I am surprised to see how determined tho tSumner Counoil seem to bo to ruin Sumner . Another case of "cut off your nose to spite your face.'' A *'rnForandum" is wanted there if" anywhere, as I am suro the majority of resident.-* prefer to havo the campers as hitherto. New Brighton residents, on the other hand, act ou the antithesis to .Sumner, as they do all they can to encourage camper*, and make New Brighton as attractive to visitors generally as possible. Thanks to a g«i-ahe:vd community. Time M'iU show which was fh<*> wiser policy. It is rather unjust to blame the camper, for everything that goes wrong in the borough (such as missing fences and trees that have been taken to boil the picnickers' kettles), as campers do not trust to such pre .arious fuel, but have a stock of their own. lam sure it cannot be said that the camps' are kept in a dirjy unhealthy stat**. as th? fellows take such a pride in the "next to godliness of their home.. No doubt it would lie very good to have the tents licensed, but not, at such a prohibitory scale as 5s per week, but only a nominal
fee, and each camper t<> pay a sort of bail
in case of any damage being done lo .-idjacent properties—(Will each camper be entitled to a collar with number and date. on payment of 5s per week?)—tho Board having the power to withdraw licence and force the campers to quit, at any time, in ease of complaints and misconduct. Indecency, while going to bathe, very seldom occurs, and when it does (here is no ono to witness it. If the Council holds to these unpopular by-laws they will certainly stop camping, as most of the follows can't afford or won't think it worth their while to pay 5s for tram and 5s for land per week (and goodwill. I presume). No doubt the house agents and owners expect to reap a rich harvest from this clever piove; but how about those peoplo who stay at Sumner during tlje holidays in a five or six-roomed house, managing to do in a small abode " as their boys camp out," thoy cau't afford a large piace, so they will stay away or go elsewhere. People won't take the houses at the present rental, ergo, rents will go down. Tlie Tramway Company will suffer, tho storekeepers will havo an " etornal winter " (they know what that means). In short the whole community will suffer. Why, the majority of people who go down to Sumner go to visit the camps and their friends iv them. " 'Tis an ill-wind that blows no one any good," and to havo such obnoxious by-laws passed at this critical time will be tho " last straw," and will turn publio favour on our other watering place, viz., Now Brighton, —Yours, &c, Frequent Visitor. September 12th, 1896.
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Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9522, 15 September 1896, Page 3
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495CAMPING AT SUMNER. Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9522, 15 September 1896, Page 3
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