HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 17 December 1920, Page 4

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Ranger. At the Hutt County Council meeting on Tuesday the ranger reported that during the month he had impounded 33 head of stock, while several Court cases were pending. He advised erection of pounds at Wainuiomata, Paraparaunm, and Taita. Cr. Whitenian said in his riding a horse had been continuously on the road, and at Akatarawa stock was ; prevalent. He had not even seen the : ranger for ,-omo time. 1 Cr. Edwards moved that before the ranger sued anyone the names of offenders be submitted to the Council first.. This would save persecution. The Chairman said she ranger should be allowed some discretion The Council had a hard and f:tst rule that everyone offending should be summoned. This, in his opinion, was not fair, as a man'.- hor.-e. no matter how careful he was, might get out. Cr. Welch agreed, but said, the motion was passed to prevent Hick showing favouritism. The Council, he thought, should rescind its motion and ask the ranger to use his discretion. The Chairman seconded the motion. Hut Cr. WMteman objected, and thought Dick should prosecute for any thing caught on the road. Cr. Atkinson thought the ranger should have discretionary power, and stating if he did rot do his duty the Council could discharge turn. Cr. Maekay said if the motion was earned there would be wrangling and the matter be unsatisfactory. If the ranger showed favouritism he could be dealt with. Cr. Edward: said he .peke from practical espeiieuce. It —as not fair to prosecute a person who from sheer accident had his. stock on the road. The motion was lost. Cr. Welch said pound; in each district were essential to save long driving. To drive stock Ir/hg distance? was unfair to owners, and he moved that a pound be erected in his riding at Taita. He also thought it would cost but little to erect pounds at other, places as asked for. Cr. WMteman said he neve? saV the ranger once a month driving cattle to the pound, and asked what was the go.od of a pound unless the. ranger made use of it? Was it fair to take a milking cow to the pound when the owner was known. He contended not. Mr Atkinson considered the erection of a pound at Taita a deliberate waste of money as there was a pound only two miles away. It would cost £2OO or £3OO to erect one. Cr. Welch said at present Dick had to go to'Lower Hutt to impound, and

when he arrived there he had difficulty in rinding the key. He (Cr. Welch) could get a pound for nothing, and it was only fair the. request should be granted. He asked for the privilege of getting the pound, and to be allowed to take the necessary steps to get it. —Granted, provided the matter was confined to Cr. "Welch's riding.