COUNCIL AND TRACTION ENGINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 9

COUNCIL AND TRACTION ENGINES.

CLUTHA COUNCIL'S BOND

DECISION ADHERED TO

At Friday afternoon's meeting_ of the Clutha County Council a petition signed by 68 ratepayers of the Pomahaka Biding was received by the council requesting that a resolution be passed by tho council rescinding tho by-law imposing a bond of £SO on all traction engine, owners before a license is granted to them. An application, accompanied by the necessary fees, was also received from 14eng.no owners for their licenses to be renewed without bondsmen.

It was stated that the by-law made provision for a bond of £SO to be entered into by traction engine owners, so that in the case of an owner being unable to mako good any damage done to a road by his engine the bond could be estreated. jH. motion was carried at tho last meeting- of the council to tho effect that all traction engine owners travelling on the county roads who had not renewed their licenses by March 15 would bo prosecuted. Tho Clerk reported that none of the applications were in order or in accordance with the county by-laws. The Chairman (Cr Cumming) stated that, owing to the applications not being accompanied by a bond the council must refuse to grant the licenses. Cr Bcgg moved —" That, as none of the applications are in order, they bo returned, as the county cannot issue licenses except in accordance with its by-laws; also that, unless licenses are taken out within 10 days, action will be taken to enforce tho law.' Tho motion was seconded by the chairman, who stated that tho attitude taken up by Cr Bcgg was the correct one. Cr Overton said that the feeling in his riding- was altogether against a bond being entered into. He thought that the by-law as it existed was useless, as before judgment could be obtained for damages caused by a traction engine tho case would in any caso have to be heard before a magistrate. Cr Edwards aaid that ho was of the same mind as Cr Overton, and ho would move—- " That tho resolution carried at last meeting to have the by-law enforced be rescinded."

The Chairman ruled the motion out of order, stating that the business before the meeting was to -consider applications for licenses to be renewed without being accompanied by a bond. Cr Edwards protested against his motion being ruled out of order, and supported his contention by quoting portion of the by-laws giving tho clerk discretionary power in issuing licenses. The speaker said that in his riding the ratepayers were all against traction engine owners having to enter into a bond. The men who caused the damage should be the responsible parties, and not the traction owners as a whole.

Cr M'lntyre said he agreed with the contentions of Crs Overton and Edwards. It would bo hard on thrashing- mill owners if they were not allowed to travel on the roads on a wet clay. Cr North said he was in favour of Cr Bcgjr's motion. If they were to bo ruled by thrashing mill owners then it was time they shut up shop as soon as possible. Cr Begg, in reply, said there were five miles of road in Cr Edwards's riding that had been grossly abused owing to tho careless driving by drivers of traction engines, and in reply to a question by Cr Edwards, the speaker instanced portion of the road by Jack's farm at Warcpa. Mr Ramsay (county engineer) said that tho road had been badly damaged in two places where it was perfectly level owing to tho carelessness of drivers.

Tho motion was then put and carried by six votes to four.