EARMARKS FOR SHEEP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 10

EARMARKS FOR SHEEP.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—l read in to-day's reports of the Supreme Court, ease that the local stock inspector. Mr Finlay AFKonzio, gave liis evidence and stated that in the Oxford district alone there were 700 different earmarks for sheep and that, owing: to duplications earmarks had lost much of their value for identification purposes. If this is so in the Oxford district what must he the position in Canterbury? In the South Island? In Xriw Zealand? Tn these days of demand for a freezing carcase and for coarse wool a very large percentage of the flocks held by small farmers are more or less crossed with long wool, and in these we know the. tar brand becomes illegible within a few months after shearing, and if the. earmark is to lose its value in identification how is the small farmer (or oven tiie large one) to be protected against fraudulent, alteration of what, he had fondly hoped was absolute proof of his ownership of sheep. Cannot someone invent a safer or better means of marking sheep so that, a dishonest man can-, not obliterate or alter this proof of ownership? Many men are trying in various ways to get at what your papers call our war profits, and I have no doubt that if one such will invent, a, safe earmark, one that cannot be pared away or cut out of all recognition, he will earn and obtain his full share of that fund which like a will o’ the wisp seems ao attiacti'?* to a large number

of your readers. Such a one null not only earn the gratitude of the small fanner, but no doubt, his practical assistance in developing his suggested improved earmark. It is time tLp Stock Department took some practical stops to protect farmers against sheep stealing, and if they are. like most Government departments, waiting to be pushed into action, T hope that the various Farmers’ l nions will take the matter up and persuade the Minister in charge of the farmers’ interests to get busy nnd\ inquire into some improved method of earmarking with a view to enforcing some new system of registration, if any can be found which will tend to procure a greater security for the flocks of the man on the land. Let the Minister ask for suggestions, offer a reward or do sometiling. If there is anything better than the present inadequate method of identifying sheep wp must he n poor iot if we have not found it yet. and if we have found it and don't know it wo are poorer still. Can you tell your readers. Air Editor, whether there are any known suggestions for improving our present method of earmarking, and whore they are to he heard of f If you can heh> us you will earn our lively gratitude.—L am, etc., OLD FARMER.