ON" OSTIMCH KKATIIKKS THKl'T ItKf'KKSSIOX KILL. 3d 



a licence from the postmaster. Do not you think M| - 

 it would be better if he had to apply to the magis- man,' M.LA. 

 trate or the Divisional Council for it ? Usually T 

 the magistrate has his hands so full that he has no 

 time to give much attention to that. I do not see 

 any harm in it, but the idea is that as many as 

 possible should get licences. 



256. The Divisional Council would have the 

 right to refuse to issue a licence or otherwise V 

 That would be dangerous, as it might lead to a 

 .monopoly, and where would the farmers come in 

 then ? I hope the Committee will not take such a 

 step as to advise that or the appointment of a 

 Board to issue licences. 



257. You must know that farmers in the Eastern 

 Province have their camps in bush veld, and com- 

 plain largely of thefts of feathers, therefore, you 

 think it is necessary that legislation should bo 

 introduced to protect these people ? Certainly. 



258. Mr. I. J. van Zyl.~] I understand that you 

 are against feather buyers having different 

 licences for different districts. But do not you 

 think it is advisable that a feather buyer when he 

 goes from one district to another to buy 

 should give notice to the magistrate of the district 

 where he intends to buy, by telegram or letter at 

 the least, as the magistrate is in communication 

 with the different police stations, and they can, 

 therefore, inquire into the buyer's dealings? I do 

 not see how it would help. We must try to have 

 a Bill that will work as easily as possible. It is 

 always difficult to make an Act to suppress thefts, 

 but we must try to put a stop to it as far as 

 possible. 



259. I agree with you that it would be a good 

 thing to do as you suggested in regard to ostrich 

 farmers being registered as the owners of ostriches, 

 and that buyers should only buy from registered 

 persons, but you have not suggested how the thief 

 is to be caught ? Only by means of the duplicate 

 receipt which the buyer has to give the seller. 



