POWERS OF AN INSPECTOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 8

POWERS OF AN INSPECTOR.

AN AUCKLAND CASE. , A case' of interest to farmers, drovers, and others interested in sheep and- cattle' sales was determined yesterday by Mr! R,"W.' Dyer, S.M. (says an Auckland Press Association' telegram). lii March last John Russell Lang, of Mongere, farmer, was charged on tho information of W. R. Brown, Stock Inspector, with, obstructing and hindering the latter in the exercise of his powers and duties of stock inspector. The facts, as adduced'from the ovidenco of the inspector, were that, on February 11, whilst inspecting sheep in the Otahuhu sale yards, his attention was. drawn to tho fact that tho defendant was driving from tho.yards a number of rams which tho inspector had not examined. Tho inspector .called upon defendant not to'remove the sheep, but to hold them for inspection. Lang refused to do so. Words ensued, and defendant drove the rams off despite the demand and warning. Yesterday Mr. Dyer gave judgment. This was to the effect that the Stock Act of 190S gave an inspector of stock the right' to detain sheep (or cattle) yarded in a public sale yard until such inspector had inspected them for lice, ticks, or other diseases. There wero no regulations gazetted under . tho Stock Act for the guidance of inspectors in matters of dot-ail, but the Magistrate was compelled to hold (though not entirely free from doubt) that tho general powers given inspectors by tho Act wcto wide enough to include the above. The minimum peualty prescribed by !,he Act, a fine of £2, was imposed with costs.