THEFTS OF STOCK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 8

THEFTS OF STOCK

♦ ■■ SERIOUS LOSSES FROM RAILWAY YARDS. For a long time past purchasers of slock at the Newmarket yards' (says the Melbourno "Argus") have suffered severely from 'the depredations of some person or persons. The story of the losses is a simple one. A, .line'of sheep is "knocked down" to a country buyer, who satisfies himself that tlie right number is there, and leave his instructions ivitU ln*> asente. Overnight a proportion of the sneop disappears. This is illustrated by the. uccuirronces of α-singlo night last woek. A Oippsla'nd operator bought ;i line of sheop on Tuesday. They wero set apart, as they could, not be trucked until Eriday. That same night one-tenth, was 6tolen, while the same percentage was taken from a neighbouring line- in the railway yard. In each case the matter was reported to tho police, but no clue has boen t'oiuad. ' Naturally, these losses have caused the greatest concern to buyers. Tho irumediiite result' is'tho annihilation of any profit on the deal, and great inconvenience is caused. Country operators arc lending to buy in their own districts, ■whore they can hire a. drover and have the stock scufhomo at once. While eiicli a course is only a proper safeguarding of tlieir own interests, the inevitable result must be a considerable decline in : the prcstigo and activity, of the New market, yards. Early and'decisivo action is therefore held to bo imperative. Ibo fact that the losses have been largely from the railway pons has also been commented upon.. This pliaro has become prominent in view of tho further losses ivhich have frequently been reported to have occurred during the actual transit.