CATTLE WITHOUT WATER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23233, 21 January 1941, Page 10

CATTLE WITHOUT WATER

FARMER FINED £lO, For omitting to supply 18 cattle with water, George Mugford, a farmer, of Ladbrooks, was fined. £lO in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M. The prosecution was brought by the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr J. K. Moloney appeared for the society, and Mr J. B. Williams for Mugford. • Mr Moloney said Mugford had 18 cattle on a spur of one of the hills behind the Cashmere estate. A trough filled from a windmill was the only means of watering the stock: In the hot weather at the, end of Christmas week 18 head of cattle were found there without water, and bellowing about the hillside for it.. On December 29 there was no water' at. all. There was a tendency for people in the hot weather to forget the need of their stock for water.

David James White, inspector for the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said he first visited the property on December 11. There was then very little water in the trough. On Sunday, December 29, he again visited the property and found the trough was empty, and the ground round about it absolutely dry. The cattle, about 12 head, were up on the hill bellowing. He had a four-gallon tin which his son filled with water from a trough in an adjoining property., Two heifers came down and were frantic for water, which was given them. ' On the following day he went again, and there was still no water. Mugford arrived when he was leaving. The

pump on the windmill was broken, and Mugford fixed it while he was there.

Private Robert Leslie White and, David Edward Le Fevre gave evidence about the dryness of the trough on December 29, and the condition of the cattle.

Mr Williams, for Mugford, submitted that the cattle had been watered.

Mugford, in evidence, said a brandnew deep-well pump had been installed only a week before. On the night of December 27 he and James Smith went there and found the pump had, been interfered with, apparently by hooligans, the rocker-arm being dismantled. , They replaced it, and when they left water was flowing into the trough. On December 28 he sent Donald Fraser after the morning milking to see that the cattle had water. James Smith gave evidence about visiting the property with Mugford, and George W.’ Cox said he had watered some of Mugford’s cattle which were on the road. Acts of vandalism had occurred on his property. Donald Fraser, a cowboy employed by Mugford, said when he visited the property on the morning of December 29 the windmill was not working and the trough was almost dry. He tied down the wires of the boundary fence and watered the cattle from a trough in the Cashmere estate.

The Magistrate said he was not satisfied .with the evidence for the defence. The reports of vandalism, however, suggested that Mugford had not intentionally left the cattle without water. Mugford was convicted and fined £lO and ordered to pay costs.