FENCING ROAD EDGES

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18406, 12 June 1925, Page 5

FENCING ROAD EDGES

THREE POINTS OF VIEW. MOTORIST, DROVER, LANDOWNER. A letter has been received from Mr Owen Bedell Stanford, Puke Puke, Oaro, North Canterbury, with reference to a proposal emanating from the Wairarapa Automobile Association to the effect that road edges on hillside? should be fenced. In the letter which has been sent to the secretary of tho South Island Motor Union, Mr P. R. Harman, the writer deals with the proposal from the point of view of a motorist, a drover, and a laud-owner. "The subject is one which affects every motorist, every owner of traveling stock, and many landowners,'' ■writes Mr Stanford. "I may state that I am interested under all three hendI ings. May I, with your permission. [ point out a few of the advantages ond 1 disadvantages which might arise if the : suggestion was adopted. "From the motorist's point of view: The placing of tho fence on + he <;dgo of the formation would make for greater safety on night journeys, especial!}' as the lights would illuminate the posts at the corners or when pulling out to pass another car. Also as <i last resort, hold a car which •would otherwise slip over the bank. "From the drover's point of view: Speaking from experience, I have always found it very difficult when m charge of a mob to prevent sheep from piling down over a steep edge and banking np against, tho lower fenco when a car or lorry has to pass through the mob. The fence is often only 6 or 8 feet from ths edge of the formation, so that the grazing is negligible, and being very steep, is seldom used. The sheep (especially lambs) get forced through the fence into the adjoining" paddocks. "From the landowner's point or view: The erection of tho feitcb would give him a better fence line. At thfo present time every slip or fall of earth ■which is cleared off the road must in the nature of things be thrown on to tho fence—perhaps a new one at that. The wires are usually cut and drawn back before tho burying process hegins. But even sd, it means new posts and a certain amount of new wire, not to mention tliG continually recurring labour every time there are slips on the road. (I would like to acknowledge a certain amount of hfelp the Public Works Department, havo given mo in making the abovft class of fenco repairs.) "Now, suppose the fence were erected on the edge of the foimatipn. One would merely cut the wires and all the clay and debris would be wheeled through thfc fence instead of tipped down on top of it. Also, supposing thelandowner, by moving his fence, as the- Wairarapa Automobilb Absociation suggests, saved a motorist ironr-golng over the edge and killing himself—wouldn't ho feel pleased, even if his fence was a little damaged? YeS, probably so-runtil the ungrateful motorist sued him for damage done to the car and the police charged him with placing an obstruction on tho King's highway. Yes, sir, a cautious farmer would want'to know his legal position before he fell in with an otherwise excellent suggestion."

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