STOCK DROVING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17067, 27 September 1929, Page 13

STOCK DROVING.

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, —With kind permission .1 would like to express my opinion re a few tjjfpints as debated by the delegates at a conference on the possibility of diverting stock to one particular route. Well, sir, as an old droyer andt thoroughly conversant on all routes and throughways for stock, I must say this point is a very ridiculous one for men claiming a knowledge, of droving. t My experience has been congestion of mobs at one’s daily destination, and I ask these learned shecpfarmecs what has the poor drover to do but use some open lane or rely on the generosity of the fanner to yard his stock for the night. Possibly Mr Adair would assist the drover to get over some of the worrying obstacles such, as traffic, stock paddocks and accommodation. I think it is quite time the drovers compelled the sheepowners to make provision en route for paddocking, drovers’ accommodation, etc., thereby relieving the weight of responsibility from a reliable man amongst stock. It is surprising to read from time to .time the comments of some of our socalled experienced sheepfarmers re what a drover should do, but how many - of these men, with the exception of Mr. 0. Williams, could possibly take a large mob of sheep between fenced roads on a long journey and feed them when one route is only for travelling stock. I am afraid we would have to hard feed and train our stock on fresh air for at least six weeks; then a drover could safely deliver the survival of the fittest. I think it is high time experienced drovers should not sit down and listen to the like of motor tourists, tradespeople, land agents, etc., but be left to their own methods of looking after the stock in their charge and keep the backbone of the country in good fettle, the motorist taking second place on all roads to stocks If it is not to be so, in a few years I am afraid all of New Zealand’s revenue will be going to America, and the country will be catering for motor cars on time payment, and stock will be a •thing of the past travelling on our i.highways. I am, etc., OLI) DROVER.