PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11398, 8 October 1902, Page 5

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held at the City Council Ohaonbers last evening. Present —Miss Freeman, and Messrs M. Murphy, W. Prudhoe, J. H. Parker, J. F- Wachsn-ann, C. Bean, D. B. McLaren, E. Hardcaetle, E. C. Brown. Mr M. Murphy was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year.

The Chairman welcomed Miss Freeman as a member of the committee.

The Inspector, Mr W. H. Zouch, reported that a considerable number of cases of alleged cruelty to animals had been, brought under his notice, and in a number of these he had deemed it desirable to give cautions. He pointed out the difficulty of obtaining evidence regarding a number of the complaints, as many people objected to come forward as witnesses. He reported a case of alleged cruelty to a dog in Hagley Park, in which a man had, it was said, cut the animal's throat with a penknife. Another case of plucking the wing feathers from a live fowl was mentioned. Regarding the accommodation for horses in railway trucks, he reported that he had made personal inspection of the trucks used by the Railway Department on the occasion of a late consignment of horses-, and he found that the height in the clear was about 6ft 3in, that was between the floor and the iron rod and cross stays on the top of the truck. He considered that by arching these rods and stays sufficient room could easily be obtained, and he had credibly been informed that upwards of thirty valuable horses had died from injuries sustained daring transit owing to insufficient head room. Another matter which he considered the Society mi_ht- reasonably bring before the railway authorities was the necessity for having an opening on the top of double deck sheep trucks, so that anyone could get in and assist sheep that were down, also that the bottom rail on each side of the truck be so close to ths floor so that the legs of the sheep would be prevented from getting vnderneath. and so causing legs being broken or bruised.

A number of letters were read, including one from "Sympathiser" with reference to the condition of a horse at Charing Cross, and also one from a resident at Springfield regarding alleged cruelty to a cow. It. was decided that steps be taken to prosecute the person alleged to be implicated in the case of cruelty to a dog in Hagiey Bark.

Mt-ssrs Twentyman Hodgson and -Hawkins will be asked to meet the Chairman and Mr Bean regarding the accomnrsodation for houses on rai'lwav trucks.

It was decided that the annual report be printed and circulated among nieuibere. t

The Chairman and Messrs McLaren and Parker were elected as an executive for the year.

It was decided to again communicate with

the Heafch Officer in reference to the use of dead horses for pig food. Mr H. Jutsum was appointed an honorary inspector to the Society, to act under the supervision of Mr Z-ouch.