4 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEX BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE 



Mr. M. ,T. buyers? My opinion is that the licence can be 

 raised, but only moderately. If you make it too 



niv 12. 1 1>7. high the producer will have to pay for it and not 

 the trader. 



22. Can you mention any cases of traders hav- 

 ing- bought feathers from servants? Mb, not as 

 far as I know. We have many feather buyers at 

 Oudtshoorn, and if one buys a feather say for 10s. 

 he will enter all particulars in his register, and will 

 see that one of the family owns ostriches, but I do 

 not know of a case where a man has bought 

 feathers from servants or " bywoners " who have 

 no ostriches. 



23. Mr. I. J. van Zyl} What do you think 

 would be a fair licence fee ? 10. 



24. Do you think it advisable that a feather 

 buyer who is duly licensed but goes into another 

 district than the one in which he has taken out 

 the licence, should first acquaint the magistrate of 

 that district that he is a registered buyer ? Nb. I 

 do not think that it would work well, as it would 

 disclose his business. 



25. But a person may take out a licence in Cape 

 Town, where there are no ostriches, and go to Oudt- 

 shoorn where he is not known. Do not you think 

 that it is advisable that such a person before he 

 gets into another district than that where he took 

 out his licence, should notify the magistrate that 

 he is a feather buyer V - No, I do not think so. I 

 have lived in Oudtshoorn for 26 years, and I go to 

 Port Elizabeth frequently to buy feathers. If I am 

 to acquaint the magistrate every- time I go it 

 would rather upset my arrangements. 



26. Chairman.'} You buy in the public market ? 

 No, from an ayent. 



27. Mr. I. J. van Zyl.} I only asked the 

 question in order to place some check on illicit 

 feather buying. A buyer could give notice by 

 telegram if he likes to the magistrate, as long as 

 he gives notice ? It would not work well. As the 

 law stands now the police have the right to 

 examine his register. 



