Carcases not buried

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 2

Carcases not buried

tn.2. Press Association)

HAMILTON, Nov. 1.

Pigs nibbling on rotting animal carcases were found by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries inspectors on a Hautapu farm, the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.

James Edwin Hill, aged 43, ;a farmer, was convicted on a charge of wilfully leaving the carcases of six cattle and 16 pigs in a place where they were accessible to dogs and

domesticated swine. The charge was brought by the Ministry. Hill was also convicted on a charge of failing to give his dogs proper exercise. This charge was laid by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Pleas of not guilty were entered on both charges, which were heard by Mr J. E. Millar, S.M.

The Magistrate dismissed a second charge brought by ; the Ministry because of a . submission bv Hill’s counsel (Mr J. G. Dillon), who said there was no offence dis- • closed in the information. • The charge concerned brucel- . losis vaccination for three to ■ six-month-old heifer calves. FINES IMPOSED

Hill was fined $75 on the • carcases charge, and $l5 on , the other count. . For the Ministry. Mr A. ' Rostron said he inspected ; Hill’s property on July 6. . Twenty-two carcases were scattered about the farm in , varying stages of decomposition. "I would say they had

been dead for one or two days up to two months,” he said. The carcases were accessable to dogs, pigs, and other animals.

Mr Rostron said Hill had told him that he had been unable to dispose of the carcases because of ill health and a faulty tractor. Hill told the Court he had made some attempts to re-

move the carcases, but influenza had hindered nis efforts.

Passing sentence, the Magistrate said he was quite satisfied Hill could have made a greater effort to dispose of the carcases.

Witnesses called by the S.P.C.A. alleged that dogs owned by Hill had not been exercised for up to three weeks.