Driving Stock Across Road At Night

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 7

Driving Stock Across Road At Night

FARMER’S RESPONSIBILITY. From Our Own Correspondent. At the monthly meting of the Magistrate's Court at Foxton an Important ruling was given by Mr J. L, Stout, S.M., when delivering a reserved judgment in the civil claim, W. H. Smith, farmer, of Moutoa, against G. D. Hassell, flax contractor, of Shannon, for the recovery of £23, alleged “value of cows injured when . Hassell’s lorry crashed into Smith's herd when it was being put across the FoxtonShannon highway one night last year. “When a farmer puts cattle across a road at night he should take every precaution,” said Mr Stout. “In this case it was admitted by plaintiff that the night

was a bad one and that visibility ' was poor. It was also shown that plaintiff’s son rushed forward and tried to stop defendant's truck. In my opinion the boy should have been carrying: a light. It seems that adequate precautions were not taken to advise users of the road of wkat was taking- place. There is no evidence of negligent driving on the part of defendant and he appeared to be keeping a good look-out. There was certainly not sufficient precaution taken by plaintiff to show defendant that the herd of cows was blocking the whole road, and I therefore give judgment iu defendant’s favour with costa £6 65.”