Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1950. S.PC.A. APPEAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 123, 9 March 1950, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1950. S.PC.A. APPEAL

Cruelty inflicted, and equally cruelty unfeelingly ignored are signs of [barbarism. Man’s inhumanity to man is matched by the callousness of the ignorant and brutal to dumb animals, and one of the signs of civilisation worth, the name is kindness and consideration to creatures lower in the scale of creation than are we ourselves. By such a criterion as thi§ it must be admitted that civilisation has advanced slowly. To us of the 20th century it seems incredible that only a century ago hangings were public spectacles, and almost as unbelievable that it is little more than 100 years since public concern at the practice of cruelty to animals in its so many and despicable forms resulted in the formation of a society to try to bring home to offenders the enormity of their acts.

So was founded in England the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in 1824. Cruelty to Animals Acts of Parliament followed, giving legislative sanction to the efforts of the society and legal redress to creatures not able to speak or legislate for themselves. The inculcation of kindness to animals, the positive side of the humanitarian movement, has in the century been fostered by literature, by fiffe schools and by societies formed for the purpose, and these agencies have wrought, side by side with the S.P.C.A.-, an amelioration in the treatment of animals which is short only by a little of a revolution.

As far as New Zealand is concerned, the society’s first foundation was in Christchurch in 1882, the first annual meeting having been held in the Provincial Council' Chambers in May, 1883. The annual report chronicled 109 members, with 850 in the young people’s branch. It showed 159 cases considered,.mostly, in those long-ago days, concerned with cruelty to horses, and recorded contacts, with England, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. The New Zealand-wide organisation was formed in 1930, and in the Dominion to-day, the federation of Societies, has 21 branches as far apart as Whangarei qnd Dunedin. For its many activities there is still need, and that in many ways ‘of which the public, though concerned, is not fully aware\ For example, over 18,000,000 animals are killed each year in our freezing works and abattoirs,' and not always with due regard to humane methods of slaughter. Reform in this matter has been largely to the credit of the society. In Wellington last year was held the first conference of inspectors, the honorary officers who carry out the preventive work of the branches. Some of the subjects on this meeting’s agenda will 'indicate the wide range of activities undertaken; they included —devices for the humane destruction of suffering animals, the design of dog kennels, watering facilities for stock afsales, shows and railway yards and the vexed .subject of boner cows. The annual conference of societies in the same year considered tethering of animals, shelter from inclement weather, road and rail transport, and, significantly, publicity and education. In Ashburton a branch of the S.P.C.A. was formed in 1944, and now has some 90 members. The monthly reports of the inspector, Mr J. R. Reeves, show the need there is even here for such vigilance as the branch can exercise. In the last six months (since last annual meeting) the record includes —animals destroyed 90, alleged starvation of farm animals 12, other ill-treating of animals 5, homes found*33, calls attended 148. This by itself is indication enough that both the prevention of cruelty and merciful lessening of suffering are effectively being undertaken, and at the same time provides warrant sufficient for the society’s public appeal. As we have said before, an organisation which, at no small sacrifice of time and effort is doing a necessary work, and one of which all will surely approve, has every right to look to the community at large-for support. This encouragement, in generous measure, we have no doubt Ashburton citizens will afford the S.P.C.A. in its appeal to-morrow.