THE LONG ACRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1185, 16 December 1913, Page 2

THE LONG ACRE.

FREE GRAZING PROHIBITED.

At last night’s Council meeting Cr Barber moved, and Cr Chrystall seconded, that the borough roads be opened for the grazing of stock for one month, in view of the growth of grass on the roads. Roads to be open between 6 a.m, and 6 p.m. Cr Coley said there was no law that allowed the Council to throw the roads open tor the grazing of stock, and if any accident occurred through the stock being on the road, he was of opinion that the Council would be liable. He intended opposing the motion. Cr Whibley said he was opposed to the motion. He had been asked to move in the same direction as Cr Barber had moved, but he had refused, as be was opposed to same. He considered that if the motion were passed and the grazing stock damaged any resident’s garden, the Council would be liable.

Cr Green also opposed tha motion. Stock should be kept off the roads, as they were a source of trouble and danger.

Cr Read said the Council were in an awkward position. The question of what was to be done with the grass arose. He considered that to allow grazing for a month was the best method of getting rid of the grass.

Cr Henderson said there was a great growth of grass on the roads and when this dried, there would be danger of fires. He didn't consider the Council would be responsible for any damage by stock. The owners of the stock would be liable.

Cr Whibley: The Council gave permisson for the stock to be on the road. Cr Henderson : But it didn’t give permission for them to go into people’s gardens. Cr Coley asked who would be responsible if there were any accidents.

Cr Green said only that night ha had seen three horses galloping along one of the streets and a lady almost frantic because she thought her children would be run over. As far as the danger from fires was concerned he was of opinion that the property owners would take precautions by cutting the grass in front of their properties. He would do so.

Cr Chrystall said it was a highly debatable point whether the Council would be responsible for accidents or not. They only gave permission to graze" the stock not to kick children. The long grass was very unsightly and something should be done to get rid of it. Cr Coley • Get people to cut it lor hay.

The Mayor suggested amend iug the motion in the direction of allowing stock on the road provided someone was in charge of them. This alteration could be made to the motion by the unanimous consent of the Council.

Crs Whibley and Coley declined to agree to the alteration being made, and the motion had to remain as it was.

Cr Coley said that when the Council had previously thrown the roads open, the conditions laid dovyn had not been properly carried out by the owners of stock.

Cr Barber said that in moving the motion he was only following the practice of past years. He had been asked by ratepayers to bring the matter up. If nothing were done there would be great danger from fires in the dry grass. As far as accidents were concerned, there had been none in the past, and he didn’t think they should look lor trouble.

The motion, on being put, was lost, Crs Barber, Chrystall, Henderson and Read voting for it, and the Mayor and Crs Coley, Whibley, Green and Freeman opposing it.

The Mayor said that had the Council been willing to have the motion amended in the direction of allowing stock to graze on the roads provided they were under proper control, he would have supported it.

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