RANGERS' POWERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 15

RANGERS' POWERS

RIGHT TO SEARCH CARS WANTED APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION TO BE SOUGHT Greater powers, including the right to search cars, are to be sought for rangers attached to acclimatisation societies. The councils of the South Island Acclimatisation Societies at the conference yesterday, decided to ask that legislation be adjusted so that a ranger could search a car by virtue of his powers under the Animal Protection and Game Act, 1921-22. Discussion arose when the decision of Mr R. Ferner, S.M., on a case, Turley Edward Neame (ranger) v. William Duncan, jun.. was referred to the council by the Grey District Acclimatisation Society. In this case the Magistrate's decision, upholding the defendant, was that the Animal Protection and Game Act, as at present constituted, conferred no general or express power of search on a ranger. The case was heard in January, Wat. The defendant was charged with obstructing or resisting a ranger in the execution of the* powers conferred on him by the act (that he had refused to allow a ranger to search his car). Mr C. W. Hervey (secretary) said that copies of the decision had been distributed to other societies. Mr D. Cuthbertson (Southland): I think it is a very serious matter. A ranger should have power to search a car, and whatever steps are thought necessary should, I think, be taken. Mr J. McDonald (South Canterbury) supported this opinion. A motion that representations be made to the Government was carried unanimously.