A PLEA FOR THE DROVER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 23

A PLEA FOR THE DROVER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Of recent years many have had ■within their grasp the opportunity to seek pleasure or business in directions which not long ago would have been considered out of the realms of possibility, and this at an expense that is not unreasonable, thanks to the automobile in one form or another. It seems probable that this opportunity is being seized by urban dwellers to a larger degree than by those whoso habitation is on the countryside; and if the correctness of this assumption be granted it follows that the proportion of travellers on our country highways at the present time contains a percentage greater than formerly of those who are not altogether 'accustomed to country life, its usages, and conditions. Although, to the average frequenter of country roads, the increase in the number of town dwellers amongst those encountered may occasion no particular notice of one small but most desiring class of mfen—the sheep-drover —which feels the change keenly. For the benefit of any who may not know, it may be stated that the sheep drover’s livelihood, even under the most favourable conditions, requires unremitting attention and scrupulous care in all kinds of weather, and it not infrequently happens that, strive as ho may, the-task of delivering the full tally of sheep at his journey’s end —possibly a week hence—is beyond his power; and that through no fault of his. And of his troubles, not the least are due, to the ignorance of sheep work shown by motorists, who, although in many cases actuated by the best of motives, do the one thing calculated to cause the maximum of inconvenience—i.e., blow the horn as loudly and as frequently as possible. No hard and fast rule can be laid down for a motorist in passing a flock of sheep. In every case conditions differ—the size of flock, width of road, class of country, etc., etc.; but as a general rule, whenever conditions allow, the drover for his own sake, will collect his sheep on one side of the road and give the motor free passage. The motorist, for his part, would bo well advised to give the drover ample time to make an arrangement of this nature. He should moke his presence known as early as possible, reduce speed as ho approaches, and pass the flock as quietly as ho can with his motor under absolute control. Even thus all danger is not overcome, for the sheep collected on one side of the road may, at the critical moment, show a tendency to move towards the centre. Only the drover’s dog can stop this movement, and should he bo sent out he would bo on the same side of the road as the motor. If one may hazard a guess as to the working of a dog’s mind, it seems probable that under such circumstances his attention would bo fixed more on the sheep than on the motor—a risky position for him. And let mo here emphasise that motorists should for over he on their guard to avoid the unpardonable offence of running over a shepherd’s dog, his greatest friend and treasure. And it is in the motorist’s power to avoid it. But a case so simple as the foregoing happens but seldom, and only with a small flock. With larger flocks the motor either meets the flock or overtakes it. In the former case the matter is still reasonably simple. He need only go dead slow or perhaps, still better, stop altogether. _ And here it may bo well to draw attention to the unwritten law, which is too often forgotten, that pleasure should give way to business. But in the latter case, when flock and motor travel in the same direction, there is sure to bo trouble. The two parties should understand each other. A request to the drover to send his heading dog out in front could scarcely bo refused. It would certainly tend to smooth matters, if only for the reason that the drover would recognise that ho was dealing with someone capable of appreciating the difficulties of the situation, and that ho could send his clog out with comparative safety. But how seldom is such a request made! More Often, by horn and explosions, intended oy the motorist to clear a. passage through the flock, the sheep are terrified and driven bolter skelter hundreds of yards straight ahead. When at length a path is opened the panting sheep rush out sideways to the limit of the road, or should this happen in a gorge, perhaps 50 yards or more up almost inaccessible ilocks on either side of the road. The drover is left far behind to rectify the situation with clogs, quite likely' tired working on sheep more tired, and a-quartor of an hour may have passed before ho has his flock once more under control and moving gently forward. The motorist is, of course, far out of sight, and probably ignorant of the fact that he has caused damage to the flock which can bo measured in pounds sterling. Judged by his actions, no must often bo 'quite unaware that sheep, although under some natural conditions extremely hardy, require when travelling long distances, which is not a natural condition, the kindest of treatment, the easiest of grades, the smoothest of roads, the slrnightost of paths, the slowest of movements, and plenty cf time to nibble. Any deviation from these requirements causes an unnecessary expenditure of the animal’s energy, which is im mediately reflected on its physical condition, and in loss of monetary value to its owner —I am, etc., Rus.