STRAY CATTLE IN SHANNON.

Shannon News, 25 January 1922, Page 3

STRAY CATTLE IN SHANNON.

V HOW TO DEAL WITH OFFENDERS • A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. At the meeting of the Shannon Bo- ; rough Council last evening, the Mi- ? yor reported that iie had been succsss- ? iul in engaging a ranger and tint official had commenced duty. K This opened up the question of stray ■ cattle and considerable discussion lor B lowed. ■ Cr Richardson expressed the ophiB ion that cattle grazing the streets in B summer really did good, because if the B grass was left it would dry off and become a. menace as fires were likely to \occur at any time. These could do more damage than stray cat tie. Or Butt pointed out that if cattle were -allowed out on the streets then ' footways were going to suffer. m Cr Richardson said that some cadie | got out accidentally and he did usl I consider the owners should be dealt I| with so severely as people who del; B berately turned their cattle out. B Cr Murray suggested withdrawing Hdill the present cases and starting BHpThe Mayor said the Council could do that as several people had t been summoned. V A case was quoted where sLn.e > calves were impounded and the Court / fines were more than the calves uwe worth. That was hardly fair. ■ The Mayor said that might be cue n enough but the question of penalty ■ was in the hands of the Court. * Cr Hook: If you are not going to i, carry the thing out properly cut tip. i ranger out altogether. Cr Richardson: Well, cut him out. Cr Gardner said this was not a thing to persecute people over. He did not V remember people being summoned a \ few years ago. * The stock was im‘■pounded and the owner had to pay » the fees and nothing more was done, f Cr Murray pointed out that the '\ great part of the damage was done ' x through stock being out at night. He (thought some discretionary power might be used where cattle got out ' accidentally. The Mayor said there was a danger of people making that an excuse when . their stock got out. He knew of one \ man who had traded on the streets for \ 18 years. 7 Cr Hook: The Council should either ’do its duty or throw the stray cattle business out altogether. j The Mayor suggested that Crs Butt i and Gardiner be empowered to revise \ the list of those against whom the | Council was taking action with a view [ of withdrawing proceedings in the cases where such action was .warrant- 1 ed.

Crs Hook and Fargher objected and thought if one case was struck out the lot should be. Cr Murray: To test the.feeling cf the Council, I will move that the Council instruct the new ranger not to take proceedings in the contemplated cases now in hand. This was seconded by Cr Gardner. Cr Hook: I will move now that the ranger be taken off altogether. Speaking to the motion the Mayor slid he thought the Council could hardly act like that as the ranger was put on on the understanding that h« got a portion of the fines. He therefore suggested that the Council only ask for a conviction and costs when the cases came before the Court —in cases that warranted such a course. Cr Murray pointed out that the Council should have some discretionary .power where an animal got out accidentally. The Mayor said if that was allowed tgvery offender would say the same thing. Cr Gardner: The people who make most trouble by complaining to the Council are those who have the most cattle on the streets. No motion was put to the meeting and the discussion petered out.