STRAY STOCK ON ROADS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 196, 28 October 1955, Page 7

STRAY STOCK ON ROADS

Ranger Re- Appointed In a letter which came before the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, October 19, the County Commissioner, Mr. A. H. O'Keefe, referred to the arrangement under which a joint ranger had been appointed by the county and the borough to deal with stock on the roads, and mentioned that the initial three months period of employment agreed on expired on October 18. The commissioner suggested continuation of the ranger's employment until January 18 on half-time ranging duty. This would mean, under the terms already agreed upon, that the borough would pay less than half the expenses of the half-time ranging appointment. The new Impounding Act would not be effective until January 1 at the earliest, and it would be unwise not to have the ranger's services right through the holiday period, when traffic would be at its heaviest. Cr. Barton thought the suggested reappointment was a quite reasonable thing to do. If the new Act was to be effective in January he thought they should keep the ranger going for another three months. He moved that the cornmissioner's proposal be given effect to. Cr. Vedder said that the winter time was when they needed a ranger, because then there was not sufficient feed for stock outside the borough and they came into the borough. In summer there was plenty of feed available and horses were then outside the borough. He did not see any need for the ranger. Cr. Young agreed with Cr. Vedder. He knew of six horses out at Oruanui over a month ago, and they were still there. The scheme had broken down completely. Cr. Morris said horses were absent from the road between Taupo and Waitahanui recently. On the Taupo-Turangi Poad the ranging had had an effect.

Cr. Vedder stated that on the Mokai Road they could find cattle and horses now. That was why he was against the arrangement. Cr. Currie said that on the previous Sunday evening there were six horses on the road between Waitahanui School and the pa, and cars had to slow up for them. They could cause an accident. They had possibly been let out to graze on the road in the evening after being shut up during the day. The Mayor, Mr. J. E. Story, stated that that eveing he had travelled from Turangi to Taupo without seeing any wandqring stock on the road. He felt that the; arrangement should be continuecl as suggested. Cr. Young said he would not oppose this three months' extensTon, in view of the approaching holiday period, but he would suggest some other arrangement later if there were no improvement. The motion to extend the joint ranging appointment was then