16 MIXL'TES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN HEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE 



MT. w. 98. In your part of the country do you suffer 

 T M.LT' losses from thefts of ostrich feathers ? No, not 

 much, but we have had thefts. 



99. Do you think it is necessary to have legis- 

 lation in that direction y I certainly think so. 



100. Have you any further suggestion to make 

 in addition to the letter you have handed in ? I 

 thoroughly approve of what is suggested by the 

 Koonap .Association, except the second new clause 

 they propose. T do not quite know what they 

 mean. In the bush veld we often have birds 

 breeding without knowing it, and when we find 

 it out the birds are grown up. I do not fully 

 understand why they wish that stopped. 



101. Besides this, have you any other objection 

 to the Bill as printed ? No. "With regard to the 

 proposed Board for issuing licences. I would say 

 that some are of opinion that applications for 

 licences should be made from the DivisionaJ 

 Councils being the local body, and perhaps under- 

 standing the matter better than the Civil 

 Commissioner. 



102. Do not you think by placing so many re- 

 strictions in the way of feather buyers of getting 

 licences we lessen competition ? There is a danger 

 of that, but 1 do not think these suggestion's go too 

 far in that respect. 



103. Are you in favour of limiting the rights of 

 licensed people to buy in a certain district or any- 

 where in the Colony y I would limit them to one 

 district where they are licensed. 



104. You see 110 objection that in doing that you 

 would limit the number of buyers y There is a 

 danger of that I see. and at last they might form a 

 ring ; but 1 do not think limiting to a district 

 would have that effect. 



105. You have to be careful not to create a 

 monopoly ? Just so. 



106 Mr. Hurndall,~\ You are aware that farmers 

 sustain heavy losses owing to the theft of 

 feathers y Yes. 



