ON OSTRICH FEATHERS THEFT REPRESSION* BILL. 13 



stop thieving ? It would be a good thing, but I do Mr. M. s. 

 not think that it would have any effect in 

 stopping thieving. Jul y 12 ' 190T 



83. Have you any suggestions or proposals to 

 make to the Committee ? Only that the Police 

 should have more authority. 



84. Mr. Bellingan.'] Can you mention any cases 

 in your district of servants selling feathers to 

 feather buyers ? No, not in the last three years. 

 In the case where I lost feathers my neighbour's 

 son was caught 



85. Mr. Hurndall.'] You do not suffer much 

 from feather thefts in the Oudtshoorn district ? 

 No, not very much. In the last three years there 

 have only been two or three convictions. 



86. Are you acquainted with ostrich farming in 

 other parts of the Colony in the Eastern Province, 

 for instance? No, I have no knowledge of it. 

 Our birds feed on lucerne and are kept in small 

 camps. On rare occasions they run on the veld. 



87. Then you can always detect if any feathers 

 are stolen ? Yes, The only trouble is with the 

 children, and the parents encourage them, and it 

 tends to teach them to tell untruths. 



88. Mr. I. J. van, ZyL] Do not you think it 

 would be a good thing that feather buyers who 

 have taken out a licence in one district should 

 give notice to the magistrate when they go into 

 another district to buy feathers? Xo. I think 

 there would be great trouble and much incon- 

 venience in connection Avith that. 



89. You might notify the magistrate by tele- 

 gram ? There might not be a telegraph office there, 

 and this would cause a lot of trouble and incon- 

 venience. 



90. Mr. dv Villiers. ] Do you think it is necessary 

 to make the old Act more stringent ? Yes, as far 

 as the police are concerned. They should have 

 more power, and should be allowed to search with- 

 out a warrant on suspicion. 



