ft MIM'TES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN I5EFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE 



Mr. 194, It would not be verv difficult to do that . J 



W. F. 

 Wever. 



P ' W - F - No. 



]95. Mr. dr Villiers.] Are you in favour of 

 17 the birds belli" registered ? No. The brands 

 should be registered, and there should be a Govern- 

 ment stamp as well on each registered branding 

 iron. 



1J)6. If a farmer is registered as an ostrich 

 farmer, should he also register his brand V Yes. 



197. Are you in favour of an ostrich farmer 

 giving notice to his neighbours that he is collecting 

 his birds for plucking ? It would be a good thing, 

 but it is not workable. I should say that if- a 

 neighbour desires to be present and lets he owner 

 know it, he should tell him the day within a week, 

 but not any particular day he intends to pluck. 



198. Mr.' IJ. C. ran Zt/L] What is the use of the 

 seller signing a duplicate copy of the certificate 

 setting forth the weight and description of the 

 feathers sold and giving it to the buyer, seeing 

 that the latter has to enter these particulars in his 

 book ? Is it not sufficient that the latter should 

 give the duplicate to the seller, so that when the 

 police examine the book and are suspicious they 

 can go to the seller and check it ? No. I think 

 that would be troublesome, because if what I 

 suggest is carried out the policeman could examine 

 the copy which has been signed by the seller and 

 compare it with the copy signed by the buyer 

 which he would have in his pocket. I should say 

 if the seller keeps his certificate at home, and the 

 police have to go there to check it with 

 the books of the buyer, many cases would 

 go undetected/ My intention is' to get an Act 

 which would catch the buyer who buys stolen 

 feathers. We must protect the honest seller and 

 the honest buyer, but we have dishonest buyers 

 and sellers. 



199. Mr. llurnd(iU~.\ You have been a heavy loser 

 through thefts of your ostrich feathers ? Yes. 

 everv month I lose feathers. 



