Sheep sea loss one in seven

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 1

Sheep sea loss one in seven

(Ae/n Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, February 5. One-seventh of the live sheep cargo carried on the Farid Fares from New Zealand failed lo survive the 19-da\ voyage to Iran.

This represented 1114 of the total cargo of 30,261 sheep which became the centre of a controversy during loading at the Port of Napier and at Timaru late last year. This is revealed In a full, report released today by the president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mr D. A. Wells, of Gisborne). The Farid Fares publicity, developed after the Napier Watersiders’ Union alleged, acts of cruelty during the loading. This led to an inquiry initiated by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Moyle). Just before Christmas Mr Moyle released his report; stating that there had been no clear indication of deliberate acts of cruelty or breaches of the Animals Protection Act. The S.P.C.A., however, was not “completely happy” with certain aspects of the Government’s reports and carried ■out its own investigations.

“It is significant that the)' [Napier watersiders who werei, : on the spot during loading; were later prepared to adopt,; istrike action in support of; itheir convictions,” Mr Wells*; said today. “The sight of sheep slaugh-l tered on the open deck under Moslem methods in full viewof any passer-by would not be one to encourage confidence in the humane outlook of those responsible. “Had it not been for the ' S.P.C.A. officers, a further. 2000 sheep might have been ■ loaded at Timaru, and, in the ■conditions created, consid-' l.erably higher losses on the! ■ voyage would have been ex-; ■ perienced,” Mr Wells said '■ Of the loss of 4444 sheep ion the voyage 1564 were ■ slaughtered and frozen on board. ,; “The sheep were on half . rations for almost 11 days! • because of a shortage of fod- • der. • “The condition of the, ; 125,820 sheep that survived I'was reasonable considering: • the length of the voyage and’ i the insanitary condition of; ithe pens," said Mr Wells.