H.—23c

2

The Committee have carefully examined the whole of the fifty-seven schemes placed before them, and do not consider that any of them comply with the above essentials. There were many of them showing a great deal of ingenuity, but they run more in the direction of providing for numerically ear-marking sheep than supplying to owners a simple and distinct mark which would not grow up or become obliterated, and the Committee think that an effort should be made to find the largest number of marks which can be made by pliers, which could remain distinct during the sheep's life, and yet be easy of application. A number of the schemes provided for labels and studs being put into sheep's ears, but, whilst suitable for stud sheep, the Committee did not think it would be possible to adopt such a scheme for ear-marking the sheep of the Dominion. The same applies to the suggested burning or branding a mark on the sheep's face. The Committee chink that the Department should take steps to adopt a scheme on the lines suggested in the first part of this report as " essentials." The registration of the lettering on ear-labels was considered, and it is recommended that when any amendment of the Stock Act is made it should be permissible for any owner desiring to register a label to do so. As there has been a generally expressed desire to permit the registration of wool-bale brands, the Committee, at the request of the Minister, have considered this subject, and think that the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act might be amended so as to render permissible the registration specially of any wool-bale brand which is the name of a place, farm, or station. Approximate Cost 0/ Paper. —Preparation, not given; printiug (1,400 copies), £1 7s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lo.

Price 3d,]