MOVING SHEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 15

MOVING SHEEP

CONSIGNMENT NOTES USE TO BE COMPULSORY EFFORT TO CHECK STEALING [ilT TKT.I'.ORAI'U—SPKCIAI, REPORTER] W EL LI XGTON, Friday Tho 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, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by Governor-General's Message. The bill provides that with certain specified exceptions no person will bo permitted to drive or convey sheep unless ho is the holder of a consignment note showing particulars of tho sheep, the places to and from which they aro being moved, tho route to be taken, and the manner in which they arc to bo moved. Consignment notes arc to bo prepared in triplicate and before tho sheep aro removed all three copies must bo signed by the owner or his agent and by the person removing tho sheep.

Tho three copies will bo held respectively by tho consignor, tho person moving tho sheep, and the consiguco or person taking delivery. When tho sheep aro delivered tbo consignee will bo required to sign tho copy of the consignment note held by the person delivering tho slice]).

Certain Exemptions Failure to produce a consignment note by any person concerned will render him liable to a line of £SO, and it is provided that when sheep aro being moved the production of a consignment note can bo demanded forthwith by n justice of tho peace, a stock inspector, a traffic inspector, or any other authorised person. At any time within six months alter tho removal of tho sheep, tho consignment note, if requireu, must .be produced within 21 hours.

Exemptions from tho use of consignment notes aro 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 10 miles and in tho driving of sheep within the limits of a borough, 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 Railway Department will be entitled to drivo sheep without consignment notes, and theso documents will not be required when sheep are being conveyed under a bill of lading or other shipping document. Other clauses in the bill prohibit the removal, exhibition or yarding of unfit stock and abolish tho necessity for making returns of slaughtered stock. Comments by Members

In introducing the bill, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said ho thought it would be welcomed by the sheepfarmers of the Dominion, who were perturbed at the amount of slice}) stealing that was going on with motor-lorries. The bill was an attempt to check tho practice. Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) asked what would happen in the case of ole sheep, perhaps a valuablo stud animal, which might be removed in a motor-car and not by lorry. No form of consignment note would prevent that happening. Mr. J. Hargest (Opposition-—Awa-rua) asked if there was any provision for tho people to whom powers of inspection were to be given. To a very large extent stealing was carried out at night when lorries had the freedom of the road. Lorries dashed along the roads at night and unless powers were given to a largo number of authorities the provisions of the bill might be defeated. Tho Minister said the bill had been prepared after consultation with tho Sheepowners' Federation and other bodies, and ho thought the consignment note proposed would cover all points. The regulation would not apply to farmers shifting stock within a radius of 10 miles

The bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to tho Agricultural and Stock Committee for the hearing of evidence.

GUARANTEED PRICES STABILITY AND SECURITY LABOUR MEMBER'S CLAIM [BY TKI.KGKA.PH SPI-X'IAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday '"Behind tho guaranteed prieo scheme is the principle of stability and security for the working farmer," said Mr. B. Roberts (Government —Wairarapa) during the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-day. The dairy farmers, ho added, had more to gain by supporting tho scheme and the Government that introduced it than they would by reverting to the old slipshod rules of marketing. Tho Leader of the Opposition had stated that he would restore marketing authority to the farmers. That would mean handing the marketing of tho farmers' produce back to Tooley Street speculators and to New Zealand agents to juggle with f.o.b. against consignment sales.