WANDERING STOCK

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1930, Page 5

WANDERING STOCK

HEAVIER PENALTIES WANTED.

The menace caused by wandering stock on West Coast roads was the subject of discussion at yesterday’s conference of representatives of local bodies in the No. 12 Highways District, held at Greymouth, and the opinion was expressed that heavier penalties should be imposed by the Magistrate upon owners of * stock found wandering on the roads. Mi* A. B. Spiers, Kumara, initiated the discussion. He said he understood that Traffic Inspector Sloss had nothing to do with the control of wandering stock now, and that it was nobody’s duty. Stock was wandering on the roads everywhere on the West Coast, and it was time something ■was done to remove the menace.

, Mr F. L. Turley, Cobden, said that there w’as no question about the nuisance. People who did not travel at night did not realise the extent of the menace. He had seen between 100 and 200 head of stock wandering on the road between Ikamatua and Ahaura, and 400 on one occasion. The drovers apparently just turned the stock on to the road to feed. No one was in charge of the animals. He had killed a few of them with his car, and was sorry he was not driving a motor lorry, as that would have killed a few more! Mr J. B. Kent, Greymouth, said that the matter was one for local bodies, and not for that conference. Mr J. Smeaton, Brunner, stated that strong action had been taken at Brunner by the Borough Council, with the result that there was not one animal wandering on the roads there now. He knew that some local bodies did nof care about taking action, because they lost votes at elections. However, people paid taxes for the roads, and it

was not a fair proposition that wandering cattle should be on them. They were a menace, and it was time they were cleaned up. Mr J. Mullin, Buller, said that during the past six or eight months, the

Buller County Council had been particularly energetic in endeavouring to secure convictions under the by-laws, against owners of wandering stock. However, the Magistrate had simply convicted the owners, without fine, ordering them to pay Court costs only. Twelve months ago, at Granity, one woman was killed as the result of a motor-car running into a cow. The Buller County Council, at its next meeting, was going to move very strongly about the lack of fines. In one very glaring case, in which twelve cattle had been found wandering on the road, the Magistrate simply convicted the owner. In order to obtain tho facts, the Council had to go to considerable expenses, but the Magis-

trate would not allow witnesses’ expenses. It seemed as if the Magistrate were really encouraging the owners to allow stock to stray on the roads. . Ju reply to a suggestion that the wandering stock should be impounded, Mi* Mullin said that the only pound in the Buller district was in the Westport borough,'and it would be expensive to erect pounds all over the country. Mr Spiers said that the Magistrate had inflicted a fine of £2 on one owner of wandering stock at Hokitika. Mr Turley said that there should be a uniform penalty. “The same as for after hours,” said Mr D. J. Evans, Hokitika. On the motion of Mr Kent, seconded by Mr Smeaton, it was decided that the various local bodies and the Highways Board be recommended to take action in an endeavour to abate the nuisance caused by wandering stock. Mr' Mullin pointed out that any ratepayer could give the necessary information to enable local bodies to prosecute offenders..