WANDERING CATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 763, 11 March 1910, Page 3

WANDERING CATTLE.

... A CALL FOE ..HEAVIER FINES.. _ Thai magistrates should impose heavier .hnes.on people who infringe the city bylaws by. allowing their-cattle to ■stray on the- roads was an opinion strongly expressed by Councillor BaJlinger at tho meeting, of the City Council last night. Quoting from-a return m his hand, he said. ; that one man;''who was convicted •ten times from. 1903 j'to 1907, was not fined on any occasion more than 10s.' for the .offence under, notice. -It seemed ridfcu-' lous-that the .fines should be so small. Another'offender's fines rauged from ss. ■up to 605., but then .dropped to 20s. and lower. Another series of fines imposed upon a similar offender ran 55., 205., 405., -ss'., 10s. The ; nuis'anco would never be stopped unless'the magistrates greatly in,creased the .fines,;and .he. thought the ipapers should' take'the question.up. Oue man was fined as'little as one shilling, and that not. for ; the first offence; if the fines, were 405.: or. 50s. people would keep their cattle in. Councillor Devine deprecated these remarks as a reflection upon the Bench. He contended'that it. was useless to read a list of fines without explaining/the cumstances of each' case. The efficiency of the council's officers in bringing people, to:book was what would put a stop to the nuisance, of "wandering cattle. Councillor.Mo'rrah. said Councillor Devine surely did : not realise' what a nuisance wandering; cattle were in some of the suburbs. In'orie'case a.man, after being convicted 50 of/60 times, was fined onlv. ss. He (Councillor Mo'rrah) spoke to the ■inspector about it, and, on the- next occasion, a fine of: £o was' inflicted, and the man had not/again offended in tho same way. The city solicitor should conduct, the cases. -,■<;•; Councillor Atkinson dissented from the remarks of. Councillor Devine. The council was entitled to complain that its bylaws were being reduced/ to a nullity, and to take some, strong steps to secure "a reasonable compliance with thorn. The matter was of sufficient importance to justify "the'cases heing taken to the Court by the city solicitor,. who should draw the 'magistrate's . attention to previous con-, victions.' The by-law was being reduced to. a; farce, and if it paid to break it, the position was actually immoral. The matter was allowed, to drop Without 'any motion ; being submitted. ,