CARTING ON COUNTY ROADS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14773, 12 October 1921, Page 6

CARTING ON COUNTY ROADS

FARMERS AS CARRIERS.

NO MORE LICENSING FEES

Whether it is worth while enforcing a licensing fee against Waipa County ratepayers who ilo casual carrying in the county for neighbours and others, was discussed by the VS aipa Council yesterday, when the chairman (Mr Stewart Reid) said he did not think the whole tiling was worth the candle. At present, according to llicir by-law*, any man who carted for another man tor payment was liable to be charged a licensing fee of £2 10s, while the man who “carried” for a livelihood paid no more, although he did an incomparably greater amount of damage to the roads- The present by-law, the chairman considered, was irritating lo the ratepayers, while producing very little revenue. Or. Cowley considered that hy enforcing the by-law the Council was assisting tire regular carrier to profltce’, a.s the ratepayers were forced to employ a carrier when a neighbour would he willing to do the work for reasonable payment. Cr. Livingstone said it was hard to draw the line between the regular and the casual carrier. In his district the cream-carters undoubtedly did a considerable amount of harm lo the roads. Would these men bo regarded as ••arriors or farmers? Cr. Ellieolt said he had always opposed (lie by-law. The ratepayers had enough calls on them without liiese petty irritating charges. He double 1 whether tlie fees thus enlected 'iculd pay Hu' wages of Ihe collector. The clerk said this year’s fees amounted In ahou! £SO. The Council decided lo allow the bylaw In lapse on the termination of the present financial year, while retaining j the power to prosecute in cases of j overloading.