“JUST RIGHTS WANTED”

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1363, 26 January 1950, Page 2

“JUST RIGHTS WANTED”

COUNTY CHAIRMAN STATES CASE Liabililty of Farm Boxes Heavy Damages Might Be Claimed “It is obvious that deliveries from stares cannot be made to the homesteads, and that they must be made to receptacles on the roadside, and all we ask is for our rights in this matter,” stated Cr. E. D. White (chairman), when the Matamata County Council further discussed at the January meeting an old remit to secure the legalisation of such boxes. “The position is,” Cr White reminded the council, "that any irresponsible individual without a stake in the country can get hold of a motor vehicle and crash into any such box and then bring a claim for full damages against the farmer. Admittedly some of the receptacles have been erected in a somewhat haphazard manner, but if they were legalised, as they should be, then they could only be erected under the supervision of county engineers. At present, if a farmer desires to lay a pipe-line under a road, he makes application to the council and it is granted subject to the approval of the engineer. The same thing would apply with receptacles. Application would be made to the council and the boxes would be erected to the satisfaction of the county engineer. We would then get protection and and also uniformity in the erection of all such receptacles. That in turn' would also improve the look of", road sides.” Mr J. A. Beck (clerk) stated that mail boxes had been legalised about four years ago, but nothing had been done to legalise cream stands or receptacles for other goods. The council decided to again submit the remit forward.