LADY AS RANGER.

Shannon News, 13 September 1927, Page 3

LADY AS RANGER.

AN OFFER TO THE COUNCIL. HAS GOOD DOG AND WHIP. The evergreen subject of wandering stock was before the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday. The pio blem was considered from various aspects, but it had a new light thiown on it by an offer of assistance from a lady at Tokomaru, who wrote asking the Council to appoint her as ranger for one week. “I don t want payment,” she said, “as long as I can get the 14 horses that camp outside my gate.. .1 have a good dog and whip. Hoping I will get the job. Cr. Catley: I move she be appointed. te: She would be in order in impounding the horses. The Engineer (Mr. Anderson) state l that there was an information for the owner of the horses to appear before the Court on Oct. 14th. In answer to Cr Whyte, the Engineer stated that the lady was at liberty to drive the horses to the pound if they were giving her trouble. . , r , A letter was also received from Mi. AI. Mitchell, of Tokomaru, stating that certain horses were regularly on the roads at night, and his fences were consequently being broken down. He had asked the owner to keep the hoises in, but he had taken no notice. The Chairman said he had the Ranger’s report before him,’ and it seemed as if he had spent most of his time at the Tokomaru end last month. Cr. Catley: The Ranger has a car. I think he could assert himself a little more than he does. Otherwise we may be compelled to apply for another The Engineer: Here is the Ranger’s report. He lias impounded 57 head. Cr. Catley: That is nothing—he may get them in one mob. The Engineer: They are not m one mob. Here is the list. Cr. Catley: I see very little wandeiing stock on the main roads or byroads; yet there are numerous complaints from Tokomaru. * The Engineer: I think the trouble is that he has been paying too much attention there, and the people have got Cr. Catley: I think if a man got me set, I would be inclined to pay a little more attention to get square with him. I take it that this stock is wandering mostly at night. Does he visit at night? ' , The Engineer: Yes, I understand he has been out there several times at ni Cr!’ Catley: I think you should tell him, when there are • complaints like this before the Council, to give the matter particular attention. The Engineer: He has been giving that end particular attention. Cr. Catley: I told him of the trouble in Gladstone Road, and he went theie regularly for a week and stopped it. Cr. Ryder: I have had no complaints. There was an old horse left at Hauteie and he brought it to the pound. CrMcLeavey:■ I have not much to complain about, except on a Sunday. Our roads then are lined with stock. I think it would pay the Ranger to talce a trip down there on a Sunday. On week-days the road at Ohau is fairly clear of stock. . The Chairman: ,I have seen him out on a Sunday. „ . . Cr. Kilsby: The roads are fairly clear, but on the road at Koputaroa there is quite a lot of stock wandering round in the day-time. In don t like laying complaints against people, but if I wanted to I could have got quite a number in the last two or three days. Cr.. Ryder: I think the Ranger should go out between 8.30 and 10 p.m. They are kept in the paddocks most of the day. The Chairman: I won’t say the roads are without stock; I have seen them myself. When the Ranger comes along they are off the road at Waikanae. Cr. McLeavey: Perhaps they have the telephone. The Chairman: There is only one cure and that is the summons —a few more prosecutions. Several councillors pointed out that the Ranger had power to prosecute. The Chairman: Yes—at his 'discretion.'

Cr. Catley: It was mandatory at one time, but we took it away from him. That was a retrograde step. The Chairman: If the trouble becomes greater, the cure is to have more prosecutions. This is not a local trouble —it is a Dominion trouble, particularly at this time of the year. It was decided to reply to the writers of the letters, informing them that the matter is receiving (he attention of the Council, and that the Ranger is instructed to prosecute.