S.P.C.A. CRITICISED.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18777, 23 August 1926, Page 11

S.P.C.A. CRITICISED.

SOUTH CANTERBURY PROTEST. (SPECIAL TO THI FBISS.) TIMAEU, August 21. At the monthly meeting of the Timaru branch of the Farmers' Union, considerable discussion took place regarding the methods, of the officers of the S.P.C.A. Mr Mowat suggested that the . Union should take action to. prevent what he described as irritating and unnecessary interference .by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He said that the Society employed inexperienced officials who know nothing about their work, and it was not .right that farmers' work .should be held up as it was, without cause. ■ Several members said tliey did not think it wise to interfere with the good work of the Society, as dumb animals should be protected. At the same time it was said that the Society , employ only experienced officials. Sometimes the Society did not go far enough, and at other times it went too far. Cases in point were cited both ways. One member said the Society was inconsistent in that while it would interfere in the case of a small sore on the shoulder of a horse, it took no notice of.such a cruel sport as hunting, when followers of the hounds gloried in looking on while a hare was hunted until caught and then torn to pieces by a pack of hounds. This was called sport, and there was nothing wrong in the opinion of the Society so long as it was sport. The feeding of wild dufeks and slaughtering them after they had been tamed, was also cited as an instance of cruelty which was condoned because it was called sport. The general opinion was that the Society was doing good work, but that it might at times use better discretion as it could do by employing only men with practical experience. It was suggested that a conference between the two bodies might be productive of good so that each might explain its point of view. A deputation consisting of Messrs P. E. Talbot, A. Ward, and D, M. France was appointed to wait on the Society.