MEETING OF SHEEP-OWNERS AT ARATAPU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8469, 21 January 1891, Page 3

MEETING OF SHEEP-OWNERS AT ARATAPU.

A meeting of sheepowners was held at Aratapu on Wednesday evening, January 7, to consider the Sheep Act of 1890, especially section. 67. The attendance was nob a large one. Mr. Franklyn Bradley, J.P., was voted to the chair, and introduced the business. Mr. Maurice Harding read ■section 67, which is as follows :—" Every owner of sheep shall forthwith, after shearing any of such sheep, and before they leave the wool-shed or drafting-yard, distinctly brand the said sheep with a woolbrand ; and every such owner who fails so to brand any sheep as' aforesaid, in manner ', as herein required, is liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds, and not less than two shillings in respect of every sheep not so branded. The Governor may, by Order-in-Council, from time to time, on petition of a majority of the owners of sheep in any district or subdivision of a district representing the ownership of not less than two-thirds the total number of sheep in such district or subdivision, exempt any such district or subdivision from the operation of this section ; and may similarly alter or revoke any such Order-in-Council in part ! or in whole as he shall think fit. Any such ', Order-in-Council shall take effect when ! gazetted as if it had formed part of this Act, and been inserted therein. The provisions of this section shall not come into j operation until the firet day of January, 1891." Mr. Maurice Harding said that the wool-branding laid down by the section would be troublesome and inconvenient, and would also occasion the sheep a good deal of unnecessary knocking about, while at the same time the branding of the wool would deteriorate it fully one halfpenny per pound. To sheep, running in bash land like his, the branding to be of any service whatever would have to be repeated at frequent intervale. He did nob think that sheepowners in this district or subdivision desired to be brought under such a law, and in order to free themselves from the operation of this section it would be necessary to petition the Governor, and he therefore moved, " That a petition be drawn up for presentation to the Governor praying that this subdivision under the Sheep Act be exempted from the operation of section 67 of the Sheep Act, 1890." Mr. H. J. Slade seconded the motion. He agreed with all Mr. Harding had said, and considered that the enforcement of section 67 in this district would be unnecessary and arbitrary. There was no reason why local owners should be compelled to. wool-brand their sheep if they did not desire it, and those who did consider it advisable to so treat their sheep, would nob be prevented from so doing by the granting of the petition proposed. Mr. W. T. Brown said he approved of the motion made. Mr. Buckland had advised him some time ago not to tar-brand his sheep near shearing time, as it lowered t-he price of the wool. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Slade moved, and Mr. Brown seconded, " That Mes3rs. M. Harding and F. Bradley be appointed to draw up the petition to the Governor, take steps to procure the necessary signatures, and forward the :jame."

This was agreed to. Sections 71 and 72 were then referred to ; the, former section renders every person, owner or nob, who removes more than onethird of the whole cub of any sheep liable to a penal',y of £10.—[Own Correspondent.]