WANDERING STOCK.

Shannon News, 17 May 1927, Page 2

WANDERING STOCK.

PUNITIVE RESOLUTION i RESCINDED. COUNTY RANGES TO RESUME DISCRETIONARY POWERS.

In accordance with notice given at the ■' previous meeting, Cr. McLeavey moved, ;■ at tie meeting of the County Council on 1 Saturday, that the following words be added to the resolution of January 9th instructing the Ranger to in all, cases of wandering stock:—“lhe Council may, however, decide not to prosecute if owners can prove to the satisfaction of the Council that their stock were trespassing on district or main roads under exceptional circumstances. The motion was seconded by Cr. Kilsby. . , The mover said that this was only equivalent to giving a man a trial be- . fore hanging him. Cr. Catley said there should be some opportunity for appeal, v ‘ The chairman said the motion might ' be amended. He was rather afraid from ■ the wording that all objections would ■ have to come before the > Council, and „ this would h# a little cumbersome. When the original motion was passed it was felt that the Ranger was not drastic enough in some cages; but as matters stood- now, the Ranger admitted that he had to issue summonses in some cases where he did not consider that they were justified. , ' Cr. McLeavey said that the Ranger . would know who the real offenders were and could present a report on impound,.‘:,ings: if the Council thought it was not ■ necessary to prosecute in certain cases, ’ -it could say so. - , _ \ ‘ The chairman said that if the Ranger ~ was to submit a list of those who were to be summoned and those who were not to be summoned, it would be for the Council to say who should be summonsed and who should not. Was the Council to sit as a court to adjudicate on impoundings? (.■ Cr. Barber: It seems like taking the I--work out of the Magistrate’s hands. ( .. r '■ Cr. Ryder said they wanted some duI 'ferent method from that obtaining now. &.*Y-Or. Jensen suggested that one or two f'6t the councillors be appointed to hear to impoundments; but he would object to being appointed for that B 1 see. himself. e Chairman agreed that the present od-was too drastic, but could not !■ ’it,? ,r j, »

agree to an alteration which involved the Council too* much.

Cr. Ryder moved, as an amendment, that prosecutions for wandering stock be'left to the discretion of the, Ranger, and that the previous resolution be rescinded. This was seconded by Cr. Bryant.

Cr. Ryder said that if the Ranger and the Engineer could not carry out the wishes of the Council, then those officers should be dispensed with. lie felt that the matter should be left in their hands, and then, if the Council knew of any people who were being allowed to escape, they should ask the Ranger and the Engineer the reason why.

The amendment was carried by five votes to four.

In a report to the Council, the Ranger (Mr G. Watson) stated that he had impounded 49 head of wandering stock during the month.