TIGHTENED UP.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1932, Page 6

TIGHTENED UP.

PROCEDURE IN REGARD TO STRAYING STOCK. COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSES AN EVERGREEN SUBJECT. A letter Avas received by the Horowheiiua County Council on Saturday from the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club, draiviug attention to wandering stock on the highways. Several accidents (the secretary wrote) had been reported Avhere cars had run into stock at night. On May 27th a car driven by a Levin resident ran .into a *feOAV, which Avas killed, the passengers fortunately escaping AA’ithout injury. The Chairman (Mr Monk) said he thought the Council’s reply should be that it Avas ranging the roads to the best of its ability, and cows Avould <ret on the roads, some by design and some by accident. There Avere over 200 miles to police in this County, ■and it would be very difficult to cover them all in one day. The Chairman added that he thought the time had come Avhen some sterner measures would have to be taken, and he understood Mitiiti Ithey AV£ire going to be taken. Cr. Catley remarked that lac Council had (beejm far too lenient in the matter of Avandcring stock. He* was told that where the Ranger came across a few stray cattle, he looked for the owner and had him return them to the paddocks, that being the end of the incident.

The Chairman: That is not so; a penalty is 'being imposed to-day. Cr. Catley contrasted the sm ill amount of revenue from fines with the number of stock dealt with. The Chairman: Considerably more has been collected under the present system than -was done previously. Cr. Gimblett: More 'blue papers should go out. The Chairman: That has been decided on. Cr. Gimbletf said that the trouble is at night, stock being systematically put on the roads then. He added that this (County was no worse off than others in the matter.

Cr. Colquhoun referred to the Ranger’s report for the past month, showing that 118 head of wandering stock had been dealt with. He asked how they had been dealt with. The Chairman: Some were impounded. The Engineer: Where we can find am owner, 'they are handed over to him and the 1 droving fees are collected from him. Where lie cannot be found, they are taken to the nearest pound. Up to a couple of weeks ago, warning had. been given in every case. It has not had the desired effect, and I am afraid that mow in every case we will prosecute —unless the' owner can show that it was clearly accidental. It was decided to inform the Automobile Club that the Council was doing its best to keep the roads clear of wandering stocky