A LARGELY signed petition was received by the Enniskillen Urban Council at its meeting on Tuesday last, as follows.

“We, the undersigned traders and ratepayers in the Urban District of Enniskillen, respectfully draw the attention of the Urban Council to the unreasonable attitude of the local police authorities enforcing the bye-law regarding street obstructions in the nature of packages of goods.

“We should be allowed a reasonable time to unpack and remove our goods, and not be harassed by the police in what we consider to be our just and lawful rights.”

In reply to a member, the Town Clerk said that the police brought their cases under an act which was similar to their own.

Mr. Kirkpatrick said that he thought it was unanimously agreed that the people were being persecuted beyond reason in this matter. It was unfair that if a trader got delivery of goods on a fair or market day in the middle of the market, he had to take them immediately, whether he was busy or not.

Worried

It was not the spirit of the Act, even if it was the letter. Traders should not be worried the moment a carter dumped goods opposite his door.

One merchant had stated that it would be better for the authorities to stop all traffic between the bridges and have the streets clear. He proposed a resolution “respectfully requesting the police authorities to exercise a wise discretion in issuing prosecutions under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts or otherwise, for street obstructions, so that no one shall be penalised save for open and flagrant breach of the law”.

Mr. Geo. Elliott, jun., seconded.

Chairman – “Anyone who wilfully causes an obstruction should be prosecuted. The police are only doing their duty in keeping the streets clear for traffic. They are doing their duty in not allowing traders make a warehouse of the street for a time. That is a different thing from allowing traders a reasonable time for the unpacking of their goods.”

The resolution was agreed to.