HUNGRY SHEEP.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 6

HUNGRY SHEEP.

CHARGE OP CRUELTY. CONVICTION QUASHED. (PBISS ASSOCIATION lin.TOHUM.) HAMILTON, September 12. The question of how long sheep can exist without food waj3 debated in ait important appeal by "William iDavid Williamson, the Taumarunui manager of Dalget-fs, Ltd., against a conviction by Mr alleged cruelty to sheep at the last Taumarunui lair. The appeal was heard before air Justice Herdman. Witnesses for the Crown stated that 132 sheep were left in a bare paddock at the saleyards for four days without* food. Four or five aiijmnlq died daily, and finally the Mayor communicated with the police and had the sheep removed. About 20 of the animals could not walk, and had to be carried, while' four -or five more died that day. The evidence of experts for.tho aefence showed that'sheep could go for lengthy periods without food, and suf-, fer no inconvenience. They had. been known to be drag ont of snow after having been buried for three weeks, and still alive. Sheep were often in railway trucks for three or four days. The appellant said that the sheep were in the bare paddock for one day. If the appeal was dismissed, the whole system of handling stock would have to be altered. The Judge said that the evidence for the Crown at first seemed startling, but expert evidence later on had changed the face of things. Evidently if the appeal was dismissed there would be great commercial inconvenience, r The appeal was upheld- v