SHEEP STEALING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 12

SHEEP STEALING

FARMER'S ALLEGATION 900 HEAD LOST IN YEAR HEAVIER PENALTIES URGED A statement' that ho lost 900 head 'of sheep in the past year was made by Mr. P. J. Roberts at the annual meeting of the Gisborne Justices of the Peace Association. He urged that the penalties against those stealing stock shoiild be made more severe. It was decided to leave the matter of framing a motion to. the incoming committee and that it be forwarded to the registrar of the federation to place before the Minister of Justice, as it was considered that the matter was of Dominion importance. Mr. Roberts said he and others considered that the sentences for these crimes were inadequate. He had read about a man who had stolen 18 head of cattle in the Taranaki district and who had got probation. Another man, for stealing wool from a widow, was let out on probation. Hard People to Catch In his district, Wharekopae, said Mr. Roberts, he had heard of a man seeing 40 head of cattle being taken from a holding Vnd, not being aware that the stock were being removed without authority, the man had said nothing. Sheep stealing was being carried on throughout the Dominion and he moved that the matter should be taken up with the Minister of Justice. Support for the motion was given by Mr. C. Matthews, who said the thieves were hard people to catch and it appeared that then they were dismissed with light penalties. Mr. J. Jackson: "What is the position now? In the old days they used to r. hang people for crimes such as that. Effect on Smaller Settlers Mr. Roberts said that some of the ' .smaller settlers were being ruined by. the constant losses of stock. When mobs of up to 10,000 sheep were being moved on the road' a quiet heading dog could be put into a roadside paddock and ! the number of the Hock being driven to market considerably increased. Mr. J. B. Clark said he thought the statements made by Mr. Roberts a little drastic and that the onus was on the I sheepfarmers to consult the police * immediately they learned of any stock missing. * Mr. Roberts said it was not until too 4 late that the thefts were discovered X and by then the stock probably had % been sold in the Waikato and might * have even been despatched to other. * parts of the Dominion to buyers. I The motion was carried.