LIVE PIGEON SHOOTING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 12

LIVE PIGEON SHOOTING.

ALLEGATIONS OF CRUELTY. A strong protest against the shooting of live pigeons was voiced by members of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at a meeting held on Monday. The inspector, Mr N. Webster, stated that during the irecent jpigeon-aHoot-ing match held by tho lillerslie Gun Club, which extended over several days, no fewer than 2000 birds were shot down. Men and boys were posted at various points to bring in and destroy tne wounded birds, but he noticed that several fell wounded behind a hedge, and no one was sent to look after them until' he protested. . Such a practice was nothing but gros3 cruelty. "A pigeon-shooting matcn is not a nice thing to watch,".he said. "It is not sport, for the birds are merely liberated from traps, and they only rise a few yards 'before they are shattered by a 'good' shot." Tho chairman, the Rev. P. S. Smallfield, said the Society should approach the Government with a view to securing the abolition of live pigeon shooting. It had been abolished in Monte Carlo, and surely it was no credit to New Zealand that it should lag behind in humanitarian legislation. Tho speaker added that he had personally visited Monte Carlo some years ago and witnessed a great shooting match held on Sunday, "and to our shame be it said that an Englishman secured tho largest slaughter recorded," he said. "Public feeling on tho subject is growing very strong, and tho Society should do all in its power to foster that feeling. It is sometimes said that live pigeon shooting is no more cruel than pheasant shooting, but the two forms of sport cannot be compared. The pheasant is free, it has a sporting chance, but the pigeons are practically tame; they are used to men's handling, and they never have a chance." It was decided that action be taken to bring the matter before the attention of Parliament during the present session. A Bill to prohibit the trapshooting of live pheasants, introduced by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, was passed by the Legislative Council last session, but was not proceeded with in tho Lower House.