To Prevent Sheep Stealing

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1938, Page 5

To Prevent Sheep Stealing

[Per Press Association. Copyright .] WELLINGTON, This Day. When the House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m., two Bills, the Stock Act Amendment Bill and the Dairy Industry Act Amendment Bill, were introduced by Goviernor-Gen-eral’s Message. The first measure is designed to put a check on sheep stealing and the second will put into operation a Dominion farm dairy instruction scheme. To Stop Sheep Stealing. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, outlining the provisions of the Stock Act Amendment Bill, said it was designed to stop sheep stealing in the Dominion by the use of consignment notes, and he thought it was a measure which every sheep farmer in the Dominion would welcome. Mr W. J, Poison (Opposition— Stratford) drew attention to a case where a single valuable stud animal, valued at three figures, had been alone in 'a paddock overnight and had been stolen, evidently by some people with a motor car. What system of consignment notes, would stop thefts of that nature? The Right Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition—Kaipara) asked if every farmer or carrier who shifted his own stock, perhaps only from one paddock to another, would be required to have a bill of lading or consignment note. He said he knew the position with regard to sheep stealing had become almost vicious throughout New Zealand. Would the Bill cover almost every avenue whereby stock might be shifted? he asked. Authority For Inspection. Mr J. Hargest (Opposition—Awarua) inquired who would have authority to carry out inspections of stock 0 n the road. The Minister, in reply, said the Bill had been prepared after consultation with the Sheep Farmers’ Federation and he hoped that it would cover all points which had been raised by members in their questions. There was certainly provision to cover the points raised by the member for Kaipara. He proposed that the Bill 1 should be read a second time, pro forma, and it would then be referred to the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, when members of the House would have the opportunity of presenting their suggestions on the Bill. Compulsory Consignment Notes. 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. It provides that with certain specified exceptions, no one will be permitted to. drive or convey sheep unless he is the holder of a consignment note, showing the particulars of sheep, places to and from which they are being moved, the route to be taken and the manner in which they are to be moved. Consignment notes are t obe prepared in triplicate and before sheep are removed, all three copies must be signed by the owner or his agent, and by the person removing the sheep, the three copies to be held respectively by the consignor, the person moving the sheep, and the consignee or the person taking delivery when the sheep are delivered. The consignee will be required to sign a copy of the consignment note held by the person delivering the sheep. Fine of £SO. 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, sjock inspector, traffic inspector, or any other authorised person. At any time within six months after removal of the sheep, the consignment note, if required, must be produced within 24 hours. Exemptions. Exemptions from use of 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 ten 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 may be entitled to drive sheep without consignment notes, anrt these documents will not bo required when sheep are being conveyed un-