A TELLING REPLY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 14

A TELLING REPLY

AN ANSWER AND A CHALLENGE PASSING A MOB OF SHEEP. THE MOTORIST'S SIDE OF THE CASE. The following is a copy of a letter to the S.T.A.A. from a well-known motorist who was accused of driving carelessly through a mob of sheep leeently: Dear Sir, —I desire to reply to the charge made by Mr. regarding my driving through his sheep, but before doing so I wish to make two qualifications. (1) 1 have driven all sorts and makes of cars for the past 13 years over almost every road of any imjiortance in this Dominion, my average mileage being between 15,(XX) and 20,000 miles per year, and on no occasion have I injured a beast, or have I been prosecuted under any local body by-laws, so you will note that I am an average driver.

(2) I have had 14 years’ experience on local bodies and held important positions, and was made a. J.P. at the early ago of 26 years. 1 have handled cattle for about 40 years, and in the , district in which I lived for 18 yeans I was considered the next best thing to a veterinary' surgeon. I also have the honour of breeding many prizewinning pedigree cattle, some of which have been exported to Australia and Africa, so you will see that my intelilect is quite normal, and 1 that my ability to handle stock is equal to the average outdoor New Zealander. When I came up to the sheep, which were going in the same direction as myself, I slowed up to a walking pace. The drover said 1 had better stop, as the sheep were very thick, and I remarked that I would go slow. My son, who can handle .stock, immediately got out and walked very slowly' in front of the car. After travelling several chains on a. down grade I came to a bridge a bout 40 feet long, and just as I stopped the car I received a wireless telegram from a man on the other side of the' bridge (who was throwing his aim about and Looked as though lie was demented), telling me to stop. The sheep went quietly' off the bridge, the man came over, and in a very loud voice, which was full of authority and bombast, said : “I thought you would have known better.” I naturally struck the same attitude, and in reply said: ‘‘Now, son, get this in your nut. I have as much right to the road as you, provided .1 am careful and do not injure your sheep.” He said: ‘Aon have no right on the bridge while sheep are there.” He forgot, in his mad mood, that- he was standing on the road between my car and the bridge, and he remained in front of the car as though he would stop me going over. I gave the car a kick up, and he took fright and got out of the way, at the same time saying he would make a case of it. My reply was ‘‘Have a buck.” We passed over the bridge (no sheep on it). My son walked in front of the car until we had passed through the sheep. Now, sir, as the road i.s of the same nature tor .several miles below where I passed him, how long would I have to wait his pleasure before proceeding on my journey? If this' is the best Mr. can do for a motorist, then I have no desire to be present and be initiated when he is at his worst.

My advice to the gentleman is that civility is the cheapest thing on this earth, and if he acts, the man he will withdraw this grossly unfair charge. In conclusion, .1 make him this offer: I will give £25 to ithe Wanganui Hospital if he proves that I passed through his sheep at more than two miles per hour and that my son was not walking in front of the car. If he fails to do so, he gives a like amount tn our local institution.