DROVER’S OFFENCE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 449, 3 June 1937, Page 4

DROVER’S OFFENCE

Horse Ridden On Footpath

Pleading guilty by letter to a charge of riding a horse along the footpath on Page Street, on May 19, Samuel Demchy, drover, Stratford, was fined 10/- (costs 10/-) in the Stratford Magistrate’s Court this morning. The employer of the defendant, J. Dickson, wrote explaining that Demchy was helping him to drive about 200 head of cattle in a populous area and rode on the footpath to prevent some of the beats entering an open gateway. Herbert Dixon, borough ranger, said that quite a lot of complaints had been received and the council was inclined to take a rather serious view of the offence. He had been instructed to take proceedings in the hope that the penalty imposed would be a sufficient deterrent. In reply to the Magistrate (Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M.), Mr Dixon said that Demchy had not previously been seen riding on the foothpaths. In the present instance he had ridden 50 or 60 yards. There were three drovers and a number of dogs and there was no need for Demchy to go on to the footpath. The Magistrate said that as it was defendant’s first offence he would not make the fine more than 10/-.