Farmers Out After Sheep Stealers

Chronicle (Levin), 10 March 1949, Page 9

Farmers Out After Sheep Stealers

■■ 1 1 ■ — — WANGANUI, Mareh 9. Farmers in tlie Wanganui, Waimarino, Waitotara, Eangitikei and Patea; Counties have becoihe so concerned about the incidence of sheep stealing that the old Wanganui Sheep Stealing Committee was disbanded at a meeting yesterday and the . new Wanganui and Distriet Sheep Stealing Preyention Committee, set up a fortnight ago, formally constituted. A jsmall exeeutive was elected to deal with urgent questions and all guarantors are to form the general committee. As a result of guarantees received from farmers, th'e committee is offering substantial: rewards for information leading to the conviction of persons for cattle or sheep stealing. ... A point emphasised at the meeting was the need for setting up small vigilaut committees in the various districts. Farmers were asked to report immediately any . suspicious conduet. Only by detecting the culprits redhanded, it was stated, could evidence be obtained for a conviction. In 1929 sheep stealing became so bad, particularly in the Eangitikei , distriet, i said Mr. T. Currie, that the old Wan- j ganui Sheep Stealing Committee was j formed. ".From the day the.first. advertisements appeared in the news-

papers, offering rewards for inftirmflttion, the trpuble ceased," Mr» C'urrie added. . ' , ' . >:'■•/ , The committee ii offering to thdffirst person to snpply information leading to the conviction of a person for. sheep stealing a reward of £5 a head for I sheep and cattle up to 20 .headj, ;and [£500 for any number over that. /.The j money .has been guranteed ; by fhfjtuers j in the Waverley, Wangjanpi^ |{angi|ikei and Waimarino districtS., '