Vandalism Rife

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 45, 7 March 1945, Page 5

Vandalism Rife

RIVER BOARD'S CONCERN

BOATS HOLED AND SUNK

The serious depredations of vandals was referred to at last week's meeting of the Hutt River Board . when the foreman reported further damage to the Board's row boats. The chairman, Mr. F. S. Hewer, stated that the Board had only re-, cently replaced a vanoal-damaged boat with a new one and now this new boat had also been damaged and sunk. Similar depredations-had previously been reported to the police, said Mr. Hewer, but possibly due to the shortage of police officers, little protection seemed to be forthcoming from that quarter. The unfortunate part was that this coninued loss of boats was seriously delaying the urgent tasks of clearing £nags from the river channels. Mr. G. S. Young stated that the position was serious and something would really have to be done to check vandalism. Mr. V. Draper pointed out that local bodies everywhere were suffering from a widespread epidemic of vandalism. Mr. Maude thought the position might be met by giving wide publicity to what was going on. Citizens should be asked through the Press to co-operate by immediately reporting liny suspicious circumstances. The present state of affairs was resulting in considerable loss of ratepayers'* property and money. It was finally decided to make further representation to the police and at the same time ask the Press to give te widest possible publicity to the matter.