WANDERING STOCK

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1926, Page 11

WANDERING STOCK

EGMONT COUNTY DISCUSSION. The perennial question of wandering stock on the roads, more particularly in its relation to contractors grazing their bullocks on the roads, formed the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday. The matter was introduced by a letter from the New Zealand Counties’ Association stating that the executive had considered the resolution from the North Island Motor Union asking that local bodies and county councils be requested to pay more attention to the grave danger to the public through stock wandering on the roads at night, and that a request be made that rangers be instructed to impound all stock so wandering. The executive of the New Zealand Counties’ Association expressed the hope that every effort would be made by the responsible authorities to abate the nuisance and grave danger to the travelling public. The chairman pointed out that the council was doing what it could to keep the roads reasonably clear, but as the Act stood cattle could not be impounded at nights. Cr. Tosland said that “because these people were paying a little tyre tax they thought they owned the roads.” They should try to keep the roads clear themselves. The council had to be careful in regard to liaving the law altered to permit cattle being impounded at nights, as that might lead to the gates, being opened so that cattle could be driven on to the roads and then impounded. Cr. Young said that the council was not making a serious attempt to keep the roads clear, as long as it permitted contractors’ bullocks to graze the roads. These bullocks were a nuisance to settlers, doing considerable damage. He gave instances where working bullocks had ruined a man’s hay paddock whilst the settler, a returned soldier, was visiting his sick child at Rotorua. He thought that in the interests of the travelling public and of the ratepayers the owners of all straying stock should be prosecuted. Cr. Tosland said that when the council accepted the lowest tender for work it mu«t recognise that bullocks were to be used. It was because they obtained grazing on the roads free that bullock owners tendered so lowly. Cr. Collins agreed that the council had invited the trouble, which was an old one. On principle he considered it would be unfair now’ to penalise contractors by prosecuting because of straying bullocks, when the contracts had been taken up with the knowledge that bullocks could be used. In future contracts he would favour a condition being inserted that bullocks were not to graze on the road. Cr. Young considered that road work with bullocks to-day was too slow and costly. Cr, Young moved that the owners of all cattle found trespassing on the roads be prosecuted. This was seconded by Cr. Hickey. The chairman said that the greatest menace on the roads were young stock and horses. Working bullocks generally moved off the roads at the approach of traffic, and, indeed, seldom left the grass at the side of the roads. He had favoured the appointment of an inspector, but as their funds would not permit such an appointment, he could not recommend it. However, when striking the rate next year, they would have to consider making provision for an appointment. Finally it was resolved to inform the New Zealand Motor Union that the council was doing all in its power to keep the roads reasonably clear, and that there was no power to impound between sunset and sunrise. Cr. Y’oung’s motion was then put as a separate resolution and carried. The council briefly discussed the appointment of a ranger, but no decision was arrived at.