REPORT 



OF THE 



SELECT COMMITTEE appointed by Order of the 

 Legislative Council dated the 9th July, 1907, 

 to report upon the Ostrich Feathers Theft 

 Repression Bill ; the Committee to have power 

 to take evidence and call for papers, and to 

 consist of Messrs. HUKKDALL, P. D. DE 

 VILLIEES, BELLINGAN, I. J. YAN ZYL, H. C. 

 VAN ZYL and MICHATJ. 



Your Committee beg to report that they have 

 considered the Bill referred to them and also the 

 evidence which they have taken on the subject. 

 They are unanimously of opinion that Legislation 

 dealing with Ostrich Feather Thefts is urgently 

 required, and should be introduced this Session. 



Your Committee do not think that the Bill as 

 introduced into the Council by the Honourable the 

 Attorney -General quite meets the case, and are of 

 opinion that it requires so many amendments that 

 they would recommend its withdrawal and the 

 substitution of another Bill in lieu thereof on the 

 following lines : 



(1) Licences to purchase Feathers and Ostrich 

 Feather Brokers' Licences should be issued 

 by Resident Magistrates upon being satisfied 

 that the applicants are fit and proper 

 persons to hold them. 



(2) No licence as aforesaid should be issued 

 to any person who shall at any time previous 

 have been convicted of the theft of Ostrich 

 Feathers or of receiving Ostrich Feathers 

 knowing them to have been stolen, and no 

 licence should be issued to any person who, 



