COUNTY PLANT INTERFERED WITH

Shannon News, 17 November 1925, Page 3

COUNTY PLANT INTERFERED WITH

DAMAGE DONE AT O'HAU AND MANAKAU. SUBSTANTIAL REWARD FOR OFFENDERS. It is regrettable that in every community there are people who cannot restrain themselves from doing Avanton damage to any property that belongs to. the community and that is left for the time being in the nature of a trust upon the public sense of fair play. Reporting to tlie lloroI whenua County Council on Saturday, the County Engineer said: “With regard to the bitumen nqw on the road I Avould like to dra\v the Council’s attention to the fact that the barrels distributed along the road (particularly in the vicinity of Oliau and Manakau) are being interfered Avith by some irresponsible person or persons. At Manakau quite recently, a large number of barrels Avere rolled into a- ditch and some of them badly damaged. It is not only the damage' done but the Council is put to a good deal of expense and a lot of time is wasted in getting these barrels onto the road again. As other machinery has also been interfered Avith I avoalcl advise that a substantial reward be offered for information that avould lead to the conviction of the person or persons interfering Avith and daimiging the Council’s property.”

Ur Ryder proposed that, a mvard of £SO- be offered for information that would lead to the cpnviction of persons damaging County property. It should be put dOAvn and put down firmly. The chairman said tliat a reAvard of £SO Avas an encouragement towards collusion and suggested that the amount' offered be £lO. A man might be prepared to “do” a week or a fortnight for £SO. Woffld hot Cr. Ryqjer consider 1 £lO as a sufficient amount? Cr. Ryder said he was in favour of £25 or nothing. “You might get people to do dirty Avork for £SO but not for £10,” he added. The chairman: Not at all. I Avould put anybody up in a minute if I saAV them damaging the County property, it is public property. Cr. Catley; It isn't dirty Avork, but a public duty. If the excessive reward is oiffefed there certainly is a danger of collusion. An amendment by the chairman: “That a reward of £lO be offered to any person giving information which will lead to the conviction of any person damaging'Council property,” Avas carried.