GRAZING STOCK ON ROADS.

Shannon News, 15 October 1926, Page 3

GRAZING STOCK ON ROADS.

- « TO BE PERMITTED IF HERDED. Whenever the low lying country surrounding the township becomes flooded, necessitating the removal of stock, the Borough Council are faced with the question of dealing with s wandering stock on the Borough roads, owing to the fact that large herds are turned loose in the borough. At Tuesday's Council meeting, Cr. Curran stated that he had been asked by several ratepayers, "How was it that cows wandering on the* Borough roads that day had not been impounded?" Cr. Richardson: You are referring to my cows. Cr. Curran: Not your alone. But they are included among those referred to. Cr. Richardson, Go to then. Cr. Curran: No man in Levin or other towns would be allowed to run cows all over the Borough roads like they do in Shannon. The Mayor: This question has always been a bugbear. Cr. Richardson said the Ranger had spoken to him and he had told him the best thing he could do was to sue him.

Cr. Curran said he would move that the Ranger be instructed that all wandering stock on the Borough roads be impounded and the owners summoned as instructed by the Council. He said it was unfair to the ratepayers that about 200 cows should be allowed to travel over the roads damaging drains, etc.

Cr. Richardson said his cows had been herded and every precaution taken to prevent damage being done to property.

The Mayor said the point was that people who are ratepayers consider they are just as entitled to graze their stock on the roads as the people from the flooded country.

Cr. Spencer expressed the opinion tha*: people from the flooded country should apply to the Council for permission to herd their stock on the Borough roads. These requests could receive urgent attention, Yiud could be dealt with according to merit. There is no doubt that on occasions of floods the grazing of stock on the Borough roads was abused. It was pointed out that the Council could not give permission for stock to be grazed on the roads. . ■ Or. Spencer said he would move then that the Ranger be notified not to impound wandering stock from the Borough roads between sunrise and sunset: until further notice, provided such stock are herded. Cr. Richardson seconded. The Mayor said this question had been brought up time and again and was a hard one to deal with. Cr. Curran: It is not allowed in other places. The Mayor: Shannon is differently situated. The unjust part is that outsiders bring in 100 to 150 head of cattle, and use the roads, while our own ratepayers are not permitted to do so. Cr. Curran: Those are the very men who are trying to flood the ratepayers out.

The Town Clerk stated that a local resident had called on him that day and enquired if the roads had been thrown open. He had replied in the negative. Ghing permission,' he said, was a difficult matter, as there was then a possibility of the Council being liable for damages in the case of an accident. Ihe only way to get over the trouble was either to take the Ranger off or summons the lot. A vote was then taken, Cr. Spencer's amendment being carried. Crs. Spencer, Richardson and Downes voted for and Cr. Cuvran against The Mayor did not exercise his vote. Cr. Richardson stated he was sorry to have to put his cows on the road. He was careful to see property owners gates were closed and that hedges were not damaged, and as long as the stock was horded lie did not think they did any harm. He never put his stock on the roads when they have been thrown open, but only when his land has been flooded.