SHEEP STEALING

Southland Times, Issue 20885, 21 September 1929, Page 8

SHEEP STEALING

DIFFICULT TO DETECT

USE OF MOTOR LORRIES ALLEGED FARMERS PERTURBED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 20. A matter reminiscent of recent, prosecutions in Southland was brought up during the discussion on the Police Department Estimates in the House of Representatives this morning when Mr W. J. Polson referred to sheep stealing. There was a great deal of sheep stealing going on in New Zealand, said Mr Polson, and the detection of such thefts was of the utmost importance to the sheep farmers of New Zealand. A great deal of what was happening was not known to the public or even to the police. Thefts were going on in both islands which were discovered too late to report to the police. When such thefts were reported, there was no special officer to handle the task of detecting the thieves. The farmers knew that it was practically useless to report the thefts because it was very seldom that a conviction was obtained. Farmers had told him that they knew that they had had sheep stolen, but it was impossible to get any redress. It was time that the police got to work and grappled with the question. What was needed was a special patrolling officer with a knowledge of stock and a car to enable him to move freely about the country. The watchful eye of such an officer on stock movements on the road would do a great deal towards striking terror into the hearts of wrong-doers. There were cases of drovers travelling long distances who picked up sheep along the road, either through carelessness or criminal intent. In any case, sheep disappeared into the mob and could not be traced. He had had an experience of that kind some years ago and had reported the loss to the Department, but three weeks passed by before a special officer was sent to investigate the matter. He was of the opinion that motor lorries were being used by night to transfer the stolen sheep for long distances. He was anxious to see the provisions which applied to night driving of stock also applied to motor lorry transportation. Mr K. S. Williams said that while every care should be taken to protect property, they would have to be careful that no hardship was inflicted. During recent years motor lorries had become popular as a means of transporting lambs to freezing works. The farmers had to deliver lambs at a certain time and they were sometimes late on the road, and if the law was made too stringent, it might lead to trouble.

The Minister said that he believed that if they could catch the key man they would eliminate sheep stealing in the country. Members: Oh, no.

The Minister: Yes, I believe there is a big man in the business who is carting stolen sheep for long distances, in fact we have evidence to that effect.