HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 94, 15 January 1926, Page 4

HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

CONFERENCE OF SOCIETIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, January 14, Tho first conference of New Zealand societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals was held to-day, and Was attended by delegates from Auckland, Canterbury, Fielding, Wellington, Timaru, Nelson. Westport, Otago, and Invercargill. Tho conference sat all day and dealt with a big order paper. Tho point, however, which created some difficulty was how tho result of the deliberations is 13 be given effect to. The most important business Was that relating to a federation of societies with headquarters at Wellington. The Otago and Canterbury delegates made it very clear that they were not in favour or tho federation proposal, which was submitted by Timaru. On a vote the proposal was adopted by a largo maj’onty, only Otago and Canterbury opposing it. The voting was on tho principle of one society one- vole. The chairman (Sir George Fenwick) stated that there would bo no obligation on the part of any society to join the federation if it were formed. A retnic dealing with t is disuse of tho overhead check rein, especially for trotters, was adopted, thought it was pointed out that the abuse was not now very serious. , , , .. . The conference adopted a remit that legislation be introduced making it conipulsory that all cattle be dehorhed. at an early stage. • , ~ , . , It was also resolved that more humane systems than pithing 1» adopted in killing auinihls, and that tho use ot the hammer was preferable. The Hon. G. M. Thomson addressed tho conference and said that he was hopeful that legislation would ultimately bo introduced abolishing live pigeon shooting. , , The treatment of lampass by burning was generally ' condemned, and motions were adopted having for their object the more careful treatment of cattle when being placed in wagons, also when in transit, and when being detrained. . An increase of fines in cases ot vicious cruelty was approved, also that Magistrates should more frequetly imprison in flagrant cases. A remit dealing with the abolition of th? coursing of rabbits and hares was adopted. ... , Several other remits which have been discussed by the various societies for soino years past also came up for consideration, and the conference supported the attitude of tho societies that something should be done to remedy present existing evils. The trend of the discussions may be said to have been that legislation could hardly be expected in many instances and that the tosuits desired by the societies could be more easily obtained through propaganda, educating the public on the humane treatment of dumb animals.