CASUAL TRADING IN TOWNS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1932, Page 8

CASUAL TRADING IN TOWNS

QUESTION OF LICENSE FEE. MATTER DISCUSSED AT ELTHAM. The position of casual traders who open shops and conduct business for brief periods and then depart from the town was mentioned by Cr. Trask at the Eltham Borough Council meeting on Friday. He considered the council should make a charge on such enterprises in fairness to the permanent business men.

The town clerk said the question had been considered before, but first it would be necessary to pass a by-law at a considerable cost, and the proposal was rejected on the grounds that the prospective revenue would not warrant it. Cr. Ricketts said that while that was the opinion at that time there had since been a greater number of this class of traders and they certainly should pay something.

The Mayor added that there were other aspects of the question. Property owners had empty shops to let and they were glad to receive any money that would help them to pay their rates. It was all very well for local business people to “kick” against fresh opposition, but if a new man came and did business for a few months it was good for the town. It would be very dangerous for them to interfere in that kind of thing. It would be a restriction of trade, and he did not think such a by-law would go .through Parliament. Their own townspeople took surplus goods to other places to sell. Cr. Kemp: And it gives employment in the shops.

Cr. Trask moved that a by-law on the subject be prepared.

Cr. Coward viewed the question as a very complex one. It would be very hard, to define a “casual” trader, he said.

Cr. Trask pointed out that it was not his intention to keep people from trading in the town. He thought, however, that the council should receive £5 out of it. If a trader stayed a certain length of time he could be given a refund. The motion was lost. RAILWAY CELEBRATIONS COSTS. CONTRIBUTION FROM ELTHAM. A donation of £2 2s towards the expenses of the Stratford-Main Trunk opening celebrations was made by the Eltham Borough Council on Friday night. The Mayor said that they should certainly contribute, but as the amount would have to come out of their small allowance for unauthorised expenditure they. would not be. able to offer very much. In moving that the amount be £2 2s Cr. Trask asked if the council had been invited to take part in arranging the celebrations. The Mayor explained that while they had not been represented on the committee they had been invited to the conference of local bodies to make arrangements. He officially represented the Eltham borough at the celebrations. The sum of £2 2s was voted. COUNTY RATES IN ARREARS. TOTAL OF £2613 FOR TWO YEARS. During the past two years arrears of rates owing to the Stratford County Council have accumulated until to-day the sum outstanding is £2613. Figures supplied by the clerk (Mr. C. J. Campbell) showed the amount in each riding to be: East £933, north £5OO, Mangaehu £494, south £397, west £260 and Ngatimaru £29. “If we could collect the arrears we could declare a holiday in rates for a year,” remarked Cr. T. T. Murray. Cr. S. Pitt expressed satisfaction at the efforts made by Mr. Campbell to collect the arrears. He thought those who had not paid were not flouting the council but were unable to find the money. Mr. Campbell said that since he issued a circular requesting that payment be made he had made arrangements with a number to pay in instalments. “The Government causes the trouble,” said Cr. L. Bunn. “The Government collects the income of men on its sections and allows them a small amount on which to live; hence there is no money for rates. It seems the county come last. These people pay all their other debts and interest first and leave nothing for the council.” The council went into committee to discuss individual cases. ELTHAM BOROUGH RATES. REPORT TO BE MADE ON ARREARS. At the Eltham Borough Council meeting on Friday Cr. Trask suggested that a return of rates outstanding be prepared for submission to the next meeting. The Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger) considered that perhaps the best procedure would be for the finance committee to report. This course was agreed to by Cr. Trask, who altered his proposal to that effect, and the motion was carried. DOUGLAS DISTRICT NEWS. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. Mr. H. Bottcher (Stratford) recently conducted Anglican Church service at Douglas as the Rev. H. S. Hamilton was on holiday at his home at Christchurch. A very enjoyable euchre party was held in the Douglas hall on November 11. Before the card competition commenced, the annual meeting of the hall took place, when the outgoing committee was returned for the ensuing years— Messrs. J. Walter (chairman), A. Walter (secretary), H. Rumball, Smith and Wilmhurst. Miss L. Walter and Mr. Noel Bell were the winners of the prizes. Keen interest was evinced by Douglas residents in the opening of the railway line on November 7, when about 30 passengers boarded the train for Heoa for the opening ceremony. During the recent fine, warm weather the shearing sheds presented a very busy aspect. Many bales of wool have been handled at the station from the outlying district. Some of the farmers are now well on the way with their ensilage making. The Maori Methodist choir on Wednesday presented a splendid concert at Douglas, but the attendance was rather disappointing, due no doubt to its being held the night before people's day at the Stratford show.