OX OST1UC1I FEATHERS THEFT REPRESSION BILL. 2 I 



200. You are aware that it is a general complaint 

 throughout the Midland districts y Yes. and it is 



very difficult to catch the thieves. We have only Ju]y 1907 

 had two convictions as far as I know altogether, 

 and there must be innumerable cases of thefts. 



201. There has been a good deal of agitation by 

 Farmers' Associations in favour of some legislation 

 being introduced to deal with this ? Yes. 



202. You think that it is necessary that such 

 legislation should be introduced for the protection 

 of the farmer ? Yes. or the farmers will be driven 

 to desperation, and I do not know what they will do. 



203. Do you know Oudtshoorn? I have travelled 

 through it. 



204. The conditions with regard to ostrich farm- 

 ing are different there from what they are in the 

 Midlands ? Yes, the ostriches there "are kept in 

 camps which I should say are a few thousand 

 yards square. 



205. And in the Midlands ? The camps extend 

 over miles of bush country, and river veld which 

 gives thieves a chance to steal as many feathers as 

 they like undetected. 



206. You cannot detect losses of feathers until 

 some time after they have been -stolen ? That is so. 



207. Who purchases these stolen feathers ? 

 Mostly travelling buyers. 



208.* You do not think they are sent to towns ? 

 ]^o, I do not think so. 



209. Are you aware of a man taking out a licence 

 in. a town and sending out agents to buy feathers 

 on the same licence ? I have been told so, but 

 cannot say positively that it is so. 



210. It is not only" the loss of the feathers Avheii 

 stolen that you complain of, but often the birds 

 are ruined for life through green feathers having 

 been plucked ? Yes. 



211. And sometimes the birds are killed for the 

 sake of the feathers V Yes. 



212. That is done by natives ? In some instances 

 where they have a. buyer who suits them. 



