THIEVING OF SHEEP

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 16

THIEVING OF SHEEP

Prevention Bill Introduced

CONSIGNMENT NOTES COMPULSORY

Close Watch to be Kept On Stock Movements [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 29. The compulsory use of consignment notes for the removal of sheep, in an effort to check the prevalence of sheep stealing in certain parts of New Zealand, is the main provision of the Stock Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives today by Governor-General's message. The bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Agricultural and Stock Committee for the hearing of evidence. The bill provides that, with certain specified exceptions, no person will be permitted to drive or convey sheep unless he is the holder of a consignment note showing the particulars of sheep, the places to and from which they are being moved, the route to be taken, and the manner in which they are to be moved. The consignment notes are to be prepared in triplicate, and before the sheep are removed all three copies must be signed by the owner or his agent, and by the person removing sheep. The three copies will be hold respectively by the consignor, the person moving the sheep and the consignee or person taking delivery. When the sheep are delivered, the consignee will be required to sign the copy of the consignment note held by the person delivering the sheep. Failure to produce a consignment note by any person concerned will render him liable to a ( fine of £SO, and it is provided that when sheep are being moved, the production of a consignment note can be demanded forthwith by a justice of the peace, a stock inspector, a traffic Inspector, or any other authorised person. Some Exemptions At any time within six months after the removal of the sheep, a consignment note, if required, must be produced within 24 hours. Exemptions from the use of the consignment notes are provided for in the case of farmers who may desire to shift their sheep from one part of their property to another within a radius of 10 miles, driving of sheep within the limits of a borough, and to or from any public saleyard not more than 10 miles distant from the farm, and to or from a show or exhibition. Persons employed by the Railways Department will be entitled to drive sheep without consignment notes, and these documents will not be required when sheep are being conveyed under a bill of lading or other shipping document. Other clauses in the bill prohibit the removal, exhibition, or yarding of unfit stock, and abolish the necessity for making returns Of slaughtered stock. Fanners Worried In introducing the bill, the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said that he thought it would be welcomed by sheep farmers of the Dominion. Sheep farmers were perturbed by the amount of sheep-stealing that was going bn with motor lorries. The bill was an attempt to check that practice. Mr W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): What method is it proposed to use? The Minister: Consignment notes. Mr Poison asked what would happen in the case of one sheep, perhaps from a valuable stud, being stolen by motor-car and not by lorry. No form of consignment note would prevent that happening. Was there anything in the measure that would go further than a consignment note and stop that happening? The Minister was asked by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (National, Kaipara) whether the bill provided that every carrier of stock and every farmer who carted his own stock or his neighbour’s stock must have a bill of lading before he went on the highway. If that was what it meant every movement of sheep from paddock to paddock, or to the railway, or the saleyards, must be covered by a consignment rote. Mr J. Hargest (National, Awarua) asked if there was any provision for the people to whom powers of inspection were to be given. To a very large extent stealing was carried out at night, when lorries had the freedom of the road. Lorries dashed along the roads at night, and unless powers were given to a large number of authorities, the provisions of the bill might be defeated. Mention of Embargo Mr H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) asked for an assurance that the bill contained nothing in the nature of the removal of the regulations covering the importation of stock from overseas.

The Minister- said there was nothing in the bill affecting the embargo. The bill had been prepared after consultation with the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation and other authorities, and he thought that the consignment note proposed would cover all points. Full provision was made for dealing with the points raised by Mr Coates.