REMOVAL OF SHEEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19697, 1 August 1938, Page 4

REMOVAL OF SHEEP

CONSIGNMENT NOTE PLAN

GISBORNE ENDORSEMENT

OTHER PROVISIONS URGED

General endorsement of the bill to provide for the issue of consignment notes in triplicate for the removal of sneep in an endeavour to prevent sheep stealing is given in Gisborne. where farmers' organisations had previously urged such a plan.

Farmers here believe that the proposed consignment note issue is the most important for the prevention of 'hefts, but some consider that the legislation should go further, and that the provisions, as drafted, are not complete. Ear-marking has been one of the problems discussed in the Gisborne district, and farmers maintain that under the present system allowing alterations to the original marks leaves room for unscrupulous persons to change the marks for illegal purposes.

A complete change of the car-mark-ing system is urged, so that only one mark is allowable, that being the registered mark of the original owner, the marks Of all subsequent owners to be prohibited. By this means, a number of Gisborne farmers think, the identity of the original owner will be preserved, making unlawful change of ownership more difficult.

However, farmers agree that the provisions of the bill go a long way towards the desired goal and that the issue of consignment notes in triplicate will be a distinct help in preventing the theft of sheep. According to statements made, thefts of sheep had grown to serious proportions, and any step that will make unlawful removals more difficult is welcomed by owners.