SHEEP-STEALING RIFE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 137, 6 March 1931, Page 9

SHEEP-STEALING RIFE

Problem for Southern Farmers Southland is by no means free from sheep-stealing, according to a statement made by Mr. Walter Clark, of Woodlands, nt a meeting of directors of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association recently to the effect that he had no fewer than 350 good quality wethers and hoggets stolen from his property this season. , , Mr. Clark stated that the great dillieulty in detecting thefts of this nature was that no farmer could adopt an exclusive firebrand for branding his sheep and prevent his neighbours or any other farmers in the district from adopting the same brand. He stated that he hud consulted the police concerning the thett--, but in view of the fact. that the sheep had been purchased by him from several quarters, and had borne the earbrands of the farmers who had tu'edthem.idei. tification would be impossible. It had been suggested that he. should adopt a special brand, but he had discovered that the regulations did not permit him to register any exclusive brand, and there was nothing to prevent every fanner in the district or the province from adopting the same brand. Several of the directors expressed the opinion that some alterations should be made to the regulations to prevent the practice from continuing or at least to make detection of the thefts more simple. It was generally conceded that a good ileal of sheep-stealing was being earned on in Southland, but the risk ot detection appeared to be slight. Ibe practice of removing sheep under cover ot darkness and conveying them to otner districts was considered to be largely responsible for the losses suffered by farmers of late.