BREACH OF STOCK ACT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15338, 23 July 1915, Page 10

BREACH OF STOCK ACT.

FARMER FINED £20. (SPECIAL TO "THE PTtKSS.") TIMAIiU, July 22. A Cattle. Valley farmer was charged to-day with having been found in possession of sheepskins from which tho ears had been removed. Tho defendant sold tho skins on May 31st, but the dealer t o whom he sold did not take them away until three weeks later, when tho polico discovered that the ears were ! off some of them. Defendant denied : that the ears had been removed by him. i Mr Campbell, for the defenco. .said J the offence was jn being found "in possession" of skins with the ears removed. It could not, bo. said that de- | fendant had been found "in possession ,, of the skins, because he had sold them lon May 31st. and they were not examined by tho polico until June 21st, throe ; weeks after defendant had parted with them. In the meantime they had been . hnnjiinfr in an open shed, and anything i might have happened to them. They ! were clearly not defendant's skins after he had sold and been paid for them on May 31st. 'Hie Magistrate said he did not acree I with that. The defendant might have ! had no property in tho skins after hehad sold them, but. he wa« in possession until the dealer took delivery. A fine of £20 and costs was imposed.