SHEEP STEALING

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1928, Page 4

SHEEP STEALING

POVERTY RAY PROBLEM. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.! GISBORNE, August 11. ‘•There is no use in closing your eyes to the fact that considerable sheep stealing is going on in this district,” said the President of the Poverty Ray Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Mr F. S. Bowen, this afternoon in the course of a discussion on the prevalence of the offence in Poverty Bay and the East Coast district. On the other hand, it was suggested that many of the losses are the result of carelessness. 'Hie discussion arose through the receipt of the following letter from a station holder' at Tepora, Tokomaru Bay: “I had a largo mob of sheep stolen last autumn, and I did not discover my loss for about a week. The police endeavoured to trace them, and they told me that they had made many cases in the district. At their suggestion, 1 wrote to ask if the Union can move in the direction of having it made compulsory for mobs travelling further than, say, 10 miles, to ho paintlnanded, and some law passed as to a signed declaration of ownership and destination, to be carried hv the drover. I leave the details to more experienced men. but the police say that legislation on those lines would he of great assistance to them.” The President, after referring to the fact that considerable sheep stealing is going on, gave an instance of losses, stating that one farmer had lost 400 two-tooth ewes last year. He quoted another case where, he alleged, a drover arrived at his destination with 299 sheep more than when lie started.

Mr J. C. Graham said that on one occasion lie noticed a district farmer’s .sheep in a draft for Waikato, and the men, when spoken to, said that they would yard them out that night. Next day the speaker saw the owner, who said that he had not received the sheep, and, following up the mob, he secured 67 two-tooth wethers, valued at 30s each.

Mr J. C. Field suggested that the Farmers’ Union should create a fund to pay rewards for convictions in the case.; of sheep stealing. The reward could iso fixed at £IOO. The President su'd he did not want the impression to get out that all of the. drivers were dishonest, for many of them were strictly honest.

Several members suggested that the losses were due to carelessness on the part of stock owners. One member caused laughter by stating that lie had driven sheep along the reads and he Jind brought home mar© than lie started with. After further discussion, a (oaunitte was appointed to collaborate with the police and communicate with the Dominion Executive on the subject.