SHEEP-STEALING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

SHEEP-STEALING.

PREVALENT IN POVERTY BAY. COUNTER-ACTION PROPOSED. LEGISLATIVE AID SOUGHT. iKy Telegraph.—Press Assoeiation.> GISBORXE. Saturday. "There is no use in clniinjr our eyes to the fact that a considerable amount of sheep stealing is going on in this district," said the president of the Poverty Bay executive of the Fanners' Union, Mr. P. S. Bowen, this afternoon, in the course of a discussion of the prevalence of the offence in Poverty Bay and the East Coast district. On the other hand, it was suggested that many of the losses were the result of carelessness. The discussion arose through the receipt of the following letter from a station holder at Te Pora. Tokomaru Bay : "I had a large mob of sheep stolen last autumn, and did not disc-over my Jos? for about a week. *1 he police endeavoured to trace them, and told me they had many such cases in the district. At their suggestion I write to ask if the union can move in the direction of having it made compulsory for mobs travelling further than, say 10 miles, to ho paint-branded, and some law pas-ed requiring a -igned declaration of ownership and destination to be carried by the drover. I leave detailto more experienced men, but the police say that legislation on these lines would be a great assistance to them.''

The president gave instances of oilier losses. He said one farmer had lost 4UO two-tooth ewes last year. In another 'he alleged a drover arrived at his destination with 200 sheep more than when he started.

Mr. J. C. Field suggested that the Farmers' Union should create a fund to pay rewards for conviction in case:-. of sheep stealing. The amount of the reward could be fixed at £100.

The president said he did not want the impression to bo given that all drovers were dishonest, for many were strictly honest.

Several members suggested that the losses were due to carelessness on the part of the owners. One member caused laughter by stating that he had driven sheep along road> and brought homo more than he started uit».

A committee was apyiointed to 'n|U. borate with thf police and to communicate with the Dominion executive on th» subject.