STRAYING STOCK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 6, 14 September 1943, Page 4

STRAYING STOCK

THE recent accident on the Matata road leading to the prosecution of a local taxi driver brings forcibly to mind the growing menace of stray cattle on the roads at night for which this district is beginning to get something of a reputation. There can be no doubt but that the Transport Department, the police and the County Inspector are doing their utmost to suppress the habit of allowing cattle to graze on the roadway, witness the growing list of pro-( secutions produced each court day. The evil however still 1 continues to be one of our worst problems as far as roading dangers are concerned. Various reasons are given themost likely being the number of Maori stock owners who either through neglect of their fences or their gate entrances permit their stock to wander at random. The court list tells the tale in this respect, particularly when offenders make their second and third appearances in answer to the same charges. The. fact that the Maori farmer fails to appreciate the gravity of allowing beasts to remain unattended on the road, is no real reason for the prevalence of the practice which is a potential danger to all users of the highways and the only way apparently whereby the culprits can be taught is the painful method of increasingly heavy fines which should be meted out to offenders at each successive prosecution.