THEFT OF STOCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 28 January 1938, Page 6

THEFT OF STOCK.

An amendment to the Stock Act to prevent as far as possible the theft of stock has been promised by the Government during the current session of Parliament. The Bill is now being drafted and, according to information placed before the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union, much greater protection will be afforded farmers once the measure is passed. Travelling stock, it was stated, would in future be liable to inspection by police, stock inspectors, transport officers, and Justices of the Peace, authorised people to whom a farmer could apply if he had reason to believe that stock had been stolen. Another provision mentioned as possible is the compulsory carriage of consignment notes describing the number and type of stock being driven or carted. The Canterbury Union has expressed appreciation of the promised additional safeguards. Much lias been done in the past to assist farmers against the depredation of thieves by restricting the movement of stock at night, but their organisations have on numerous occasions Voiced the opinion that the law is not sufficiently tight, and urged amendments to prevent the serious losses they periodically suffer. Recently there have been numer ous complaint's of the loss of stock, particularly sheep. A few months ago a Taihape farmer discovered a substantial number of his flock to be missing, the second serious loss within a brief space, and his experience has’ been repeated all over the country, from North Aucklajid through the Waikato. Poverty Bay, the Wellington province, Marlborough, and Can terbury. In many cases farmers are not able to keep their flocks under observation, and it often happens that considerable time elapses between a theft, and its discovery, particularly , in back country where motor transport can speedily remove stock a considerable distance, overnight. The compulsory carrying of consignment notes by those in charge of animals, giving full particulars and serving as prima facie evidence of authority to remove the stock, and the appointment of inspectors from police, the traffic department, and Government stock officials must add considerable weight to the law as it now stands without entailing much additional cost. Evidence of the heavy losses suffered by farmers is found in their earnest desire for the amendment to be passed into law.