Sir Paul quits as patron of Auckland S.P.C.A.

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 17

Sir Paul quits as patron of Auckland S.P.C.A.

PA Wellington The Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, has resigned as patron of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after it received complaints about his ritual slaughter of two pigs. Sir Paul said in a brief press statement that the resignation was a result of the receipt of a letter from the society. The director of the Auckland society, Mr Bob Kerridge, said earlier this month that the group had received dozens of complaints about Sir Paul’s

ritual slaughter of two pigs in Vanuatu’s remote northern islands during a tour of the Pacific. Mr Kerridge said yesterday that he could not comment on the matter until he had received a reply from Sir Paul, but he confirmed that the letter sent by his society referred to the Vanuatu incidents. The general secretary of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr Arthur Blampied, said the national organisation, of which Sir Paul is also patron, had yet to consider its response.

Both sides of the story would be considered at the national meeting to be held late in June, he said. The director of the national society, Mr Neil Wells, said earlier this month that Sir Paul’s actions had embarrassed the society. The national body had almost completed a pamphlet in four Pacific Island languages explaining acceptable and unacceptable treatment of animals. “The main thing behind it is that village traditions are often unacceptable in New Zealand,” he said.