LED HORSES ON ROADS

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25214, 19 June 1947, Page 3

LED HORSES ON ROADS

DECISIONS REACHED BY CONFERENCE WANDERING STOCK ALSO DISCUSSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. June 18. Important decisions affecting all road users were reached at a conference held in Wellington under the chairmanship of the Commissioner o( Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson). The conference discussed the danger to road traffic caused by led horses and wandering stock. The Transport Department. Counties Association. Municipal Association. and North and South Island Motor Unions were represented at the meeting. In addition, there were present delegates from Federated Farmers, New Zealand Racing, .Owners’. Breeders’, and Trainers’ Association, the Wellington Racing Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, the Main Highways Board, the Department of Agriculture. and the Police Department.

The conference decided that where a person is riding a horse and leading another the ridden horse should be between the led horse and road traffic. Where there is a grass margin on the road-side this should be used and it is then permissible to use either the right or left side of the road. When it is neces-sary to use the road, the rule of the road—keep to the left —must be observed.

Drivers are to be asked to observe special care when passing horses, both by slowing down and giving rider and horse plenty of room. The delegates reported that varying opinions were held by local bodies as to the method of dealing with wandering stock. After a full discussion it was agreed that the present law was inadequate to deal with the matter. It was revealed that three separate Acts were in operation, and recommendations were made that these should be consolidated into the Impounding Act. 1908.

The conference decided that the provisions of the Impounding Act should be strengthened to increase the powers and penalties now in force; further that power be given to any police officer, traffic inspector, ranger, or authorised person to enfore the law relating to wandering stock. This would necessitate bringing certain provisons of the Police Offences Act under the new Impounding Act and extending them so that the presence of stock on the road should be deemed prima facie evidence against the owner of his having permitted the stock to wander. It was proposed that, the proof of negligence in civil actions arising from collisions with wandering stock should be simplified. Local bodies are to be asked not to issue further permits for grazing rights on public roads. Representations are to be made to the Internal Affairs Department to give effect to the recommendations of the conference.