PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20904, 11 July 1933, Page 6

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

MEETING OF CANTERBURY SOCIETY. QUESTION OF AFFILIATING WITH FEDERATION. The monthly meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals was held yesterday, Mr R. Wilson presiding. The finahcial statement showed a debit balance of £lsl Os 6d. Mrs E. Poulten, a member of the committee, was granted three months' leave of absence. Mr H. P. Bridge reported that he had seen Mr Denys Hoare concerning a proposal that the society should take space at the winter show. Mr Hoare had suggested a plan for a stand and had promised to use his influence to help the society to obtain it at a nominal rental. It was decided to* procure 2000 magazines for distribution at the show. In reply to the society's request for a description of the methods used in England for the humane destruction of animals, Miss Marjorie Martin wrote stating that the lethal chamber was used in most places. She herself did not favour that method, as the mental torture, particularly in the cases of nervous dogs, must be great, and she considered that the best method wafl an injection of morphia, followed, when the animal was unconscious, by an injection of prussie acid into the lungs. Discussion oft Affiliation. A copy of the constitution of "the Federation of the New Zealand Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was received, and thete was some discussion on the advisability of the society affiliating with the federation. Mr J. O. Jameson said that at a conference held in Wellington the question of the federation of all branches of the society throughout New Zealand had , been discussed. The Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago branches, together with some of the smaller branches, did not affiliate with the federation. This meant that three of the four lafga branches were not affiliated, and the federation, therefore, consisted of Wellington and some small'centres. There was more strength outside the federation than in it. The only thing offered as an inducement for the societies to affiliate Was that parliamentary business on behalf of societies would be facilitated. The Police Offences Act, however, gave the societies' inspactOrs full powers to prosecute in any cases. He thought that before the Canterbury centre took further action the societies that refused to affiliate previ°"fjy should be communicated with. Mr Bridge said he was opposed to federation Many societies centralised n Wellington ahd Wellington "seemed to think it was head of the universe." Wellington assumed control, and the %& lym r S branches lost their individuality. The Canterbury branch was the oldest and was the most active branch at the present time, he said. Affiliation wou d be a retrograde step. He thought that if any matter heeded correcting and had to be put before parl!?7! ent a combination of the branches of the society would be as effective as K^? 18 ™ 11 ?! 1 The "nances of the Son W weakened by afflliallJ he Hr a e « V -, H - Nor *cote sugested that the branch would increase its influence if it were able to call itself a national society and not a local one : There was no need for the matter to He suggested posal to federate be kept in view and the society work toward it The matter Will be further discussed The* °i the S The report of Mrs A. L. Millineton organising secretary to thJ i.mi™ league, stated that V new Members had been enrolled during th?sdnth xwisrartias ass tailed through l ack of transport