County Ranging

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 December 1915, Page 3

County Ranging

A IsEW SYSTEM 10 M I'lllED. . The matter of keeping the county road clear of stack came up lor discussioij.at the meeting oi die Horowhenua County Council un Saturday, alter llie annual meeting.

Mr H. "Winley, of Unau, waited 011 the council previous to the unnuai meeting and complained that there was a bull wandering on two roaus at Oban. The roads in question were blind roads, and: the people who turned stocK on them were not ratepayers. The bull was a danger to people anil oroke down the fences. lit ere was enough tiu veiling stock on the road to Keep the grass down. The council snould take btups to remedy matiens. Councillor Broadbelt said it was link' the matter was taken in band by tlie council. lie was prepared to take drastic action. ihe question o. the ranging waa getting a serious one.

(Jll the discussion ueing resumed Councillor broadbelt said Litat his idea to remedy matters was lor the council to appoint a ranger lor the whole council and pay him a decent salary, and tiiey would get a good man. He thought il they summoneu for trespass instead of impounding they would, do bettci. Tlie new ranger also should collect the dog tax. At present tlie ranging cost about £100 a year, and at present in the Wirokmo riding tlie roads were being lormed.

Councillors Stephenson and freeman said that the proposed scheme had. been tried yeans ago and had foiled. Councillor Stephenson added tnat the ratepayers in the northern end would not agree 10 the proposal.

Councillor Watson said that the man jn the past had been allowed to do private work and had neglected the council's work. If this was provided against he thought tne scheme would be successful, and would not cost the council much more than it does at present. Under the present system u was not to the ratepayers' interest to keep "the roads clear.

Councillor f'ately considered) it time a now method was tried; the present one was a iarco. . If tiie council saw that a permanent man did his work the scheme proposed would be a success.

Councillor Rettor remembered the time they live man, and tne county kept clear. He did; not think tho county too big for one man to look after. Some rangers employed by the council were "dead beats." He favoured suing for trespassing instead of impounding stock

The chairman was in sympathy with the proopsal. He lived on the Hutt County Council boundary, and on the Hutt side the roads were dear, and on this side there were plenty of stock: the reason being that the Hutt council prosecuted for trespass. The ranger also would collect the dog tax. Councillor Broadbelt moved that applications for the position of ranger and collector of tho dog?.tax lor the whole county be called at a salary of £<190 per aiinum. 1 Councillor Catelv seconded the motion. Councillor Stephenson said that notico of motion must be given of the resolution. It would give them time to consider the position. The matter was held over to the January meeting.