WANDERING STOCK.

Shannon News, 25 February 1927, Page 3

WANDERING STOCK.

CR. RICHARDS HAS A GRIEVANCE The Shannon Borough Council's annual, the "Wandering Stock Nuisance" was revived by Cr. Richards at Tuesday's meeting, when he complained of the large number of summonses issued by the Ranger against persons for allowing stock to wander on Borough roads. He said some time ago he understood the Ranger had been instructed to im : pound all stock on the roads not herded. He did not think it was fair that people should be fined as well as having to pay poundage fees. He complained that the Ranger was not treating everybody alike, as some people appeared to be bescaping prosecution. He contended that the Council were permitting people to be persecuted. The Mayor said that in the past the Council had received a lot of complaints, but .this was the first occasion the present Ranger had been accused of not treating all alike. Cr Richards: Well, T accuse him now. Continuing, he said a cow had been grazing in Bryce Street for the past two months. Cr. Thwaites: Cr Richards must remember that the Ranger cannot-be everywhere, and it is quite possible while he is working one end of the Borough, for stock to be grazing at the other. The Town Clerk said that the last instruction issued to the Ranger was to the effect that all stock not herded be impounded. Cr. Downes said he did not think it was necessary to impound a beast, particularly a milking cow if the Ranger knew the.owner. He should notify the owner and a summons could follow. Cr Richardson then moved that the roads be closed, the motion being carried. Cr Richards asked if the Council was going to allow the Ranger to prosecute some and not others. If so, they were not doing their duty in permitting it. The- discussion was brought to a close when it was resolved on the motion of Cr Spencer, " That the Ranger be notified that it has been brought under the Council's notice that a lot of stock has been grazing on the Borough roads, particularly Bryce Street, without any person in charge and that he be asked for a report.'"

CASES BEFORE THE COURT. FINES INFLICTED. A number of charges were heard by i Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., at Levin yesI terday, as a result of informations laid ! by the Ranger, Mr J. A. Swindlehurst against- Shannon residents. The Borough Council was represented by Mr Moody. -o m S. W. Carter, A. Jamieson and ±. J-. Hodge were each fined 10/, with costs 10/, for allowing stock to wander in the Borough of Shannon; R. Buckman, A. M. Coakley, and W. Gardner, all with previous* convictions for similar offences, were fined £1 each with costs 10/. J. Pirovano, who defended Ins case, was charged with allowing two horses to wander in Grey Street, Shannon, on January 27th; and with allowing three calves to wander in Stafford Street on December 12th. The Ranger stated that he found the three calves unattended, at 3.30 p.m., and took them back to the defendant, who said that two of them belonged to him. On January 27th he discovered the two horses in Grey Street, with nobody in charge of them. In answer to a question by the defendant, witness said that on September Gth, there were nine cows and two heifers straying which belonged to the defendant, and there had been a summons for him, but it was not delivered. Defendant said that on Monday, December 13th, he taking some cattle to the sale, and several of them broke away from him and he went back to get them. He met the Ranger then and { explained the circumstances to him and the Ranger left him. The Range:': You were not taking . them to the sale. You came out of the house and had no boots on; and you had your implements on the side of the roadj to take to the sale on the nextday. , ~-. Defendant: I am saying that you clul not bring any calves to me in the afternoon. The Magistrate pointed out that the Ranger found the calves on the Sunday afternoon and saw the defendant, but laid the information for the Monday, which was wrong. The date on the charge was amended accordingly. THOUGHT THERE WAS AN EXEMPTION. J When the charge was read concerning the horses, the defendant asked the : Ranger if it was correct that a report ' appeared in the Shannon NeAvs that no stock was to be impounded until fur- . ther notice. • i The Ranger: I had a letter from the ! Town Clerk to that effect. I Defendant: When did you get the horses?

The Ranger: At 3 p.m. Defendant handed in a copy of the Shannon News of January 14th, containing the following paragraph in a report of the Borough Council meeting held on the 11th: "Resolved to instruct the Ranger not to impound stock from sunrise to sunset until further notice." The Ranger quoted the following instruction which he had since received from the Town Clerk: "I am directed to instruct you that all stock not herded must, be impounded, and stock in Grey and Ballance streets must be impounded whether herded or not" Defendant : Was it not in the paper

■j...f -;-r«k -ivns not to be impounded between sunrise and sunset? The Ranger: Yes, before this His Worship: What is the object of this decision not to impound stock for some days? The Ranger: They overcrowded the streets with stock when the roads were opened, and after that the Council enforced the rule as to herding Mr Moody stated that the object in not impounding for a time was to allow the stock to eat the grass off the sides of the roads, the Ranger being withdrawn for a short period. This was noted in the paper, and, provided that the cows were herded, grazing was allowed. His Worship: You are not over-rid-ing your own by-laws?

Mr Moody: No, sir. The Ranger stated that there was nobody in charge of the horses. Defendant lived about three-quarters of a mile from the Borough boundary. Defendant stated that he sent his daughter with the horses to get them a drink, called at her aunt's place which was near the Ranger's, and he must have taken them in her absence. When she came home without them, defendant said to her: ''Don't howl, child; the roads are open." Mr Moody said he thought that in each case there was sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction. His Worship: Is this a first, offence? Mr Moody: It is not the first time his stock has been taken from the road. On the charge relating to December 27th defendant was fined £l, with costs £1 11/; and on the other charge he was fined 10/, with costs 10/, the Magistrate remarkmg that defendant might have been misled by the resolution of the Council which he saw in the paper.