LOSSES OF SHEEP.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 August 1928, Page 7

LOSSES OF SHEEP.

IN POVERTY BAY DISTRICT FAItMERIS’ AJjTjBGAT 1 ONIS (By Telegraph —Press Association.) GISBORNE, Aug. 12. “There is no use closing our eyes to the fact that considerable sheep-steal-ing iis going on in this district.’’ .'vkl the president, of the' Poverty Bay executive ot the Farmers'’ Union, Mr F. S. Bowen, on Saturday afternoon in the course of a discussion on the prevalence of the offence in Poverty Bay and the East Coast districts. On the other hand it was (suggested that many losses were the result of carelessness. The discussion arose through the receipt of a letter from a stationhokler at Tepora, Tbkomaiu Bay, who said he had a liargei mob' of sheep stolen last autumn but had not discovered the loss for about a week. The police had endeavoured to trace them, and had told him they had had many such losses in the district. At their suggestion he asked if the union could move in the direction of having it made compulsory for mobs travelling further than about 10 unifies to be paint-branded and for drovers to cany a signed declaration of ownership arid destination. The police had said legislation on these lines would be of great assistance to them. After referring to the fact that there was considerable sheep-stealing, the president gave instances of losses, .stating that one farmer had lost 400 twotooth ewes last year. He quoted another case where he alleged a drover arrived a.t this destination with 200 slieep more than when he started. Mr J. Cl. Graham said that on one occasion he had noticed a district farmer’,s sheep in a draft for Waikato. When ■spoken to the men said they would yard them out that night. Next day the .speaker saw the owner, who sand he had not received the sheep. Following the mob he secured 67 two-tooth wethers, valued at 30s each. I Air J. O. Field suggested the Farmers’ Union should create a fund to pay rewards for conviction in eases of sheepstealing. The reward could be fixed at .€IOO. . . The president dud not. wish, the impression. to be made that all drovers were dishonest, for many were strictly honest. . ... Aliiter further discussion a committee was appointed to collaborate with the police and to communicate with the Dominion, executive on the subject.