THE NEWTOWN ZOO

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 244, 16 July 1928, Page 10

THE NEWTOWN ZOO

Sir. —I have beeu watching the “Zoo ’ controversy in your paper, as have many others anxious to see better conditions in the Wellington Zee; or, better still, to see. the Zoo, which is nothing but an overcrowded prison, done away with nltogether.’ The unthinking crowd, who look on with heartless amusement, at the dumb ennui and suffering of the animals interned there, would be, surprised to learn how many people—though still but a small minority of the population-re-gard such institutions as the Zoo as simply relics of pagan barbarism, and as a blot on Christian civilisation, so-called. What is the educational value of. the Zoo? Children are taken there as a treat, to stare at wild beasts imprisoned under conditions the most unnatural. Those children are being unconsciously imbued with the cruel idea that, so long (is human beings have their curiosity and love of novelty tickled, it does not matter what the dumb brutes suffer. It is not to teach cruelty, however, but to get hold of money, that the city fathers are so solicitous. Why must money always take precedence of mercy ? Is this Christian ? One cannot but honour Mr. Semple, and one or two other councillors, for their consistent championship of the oppressed. More power to the arms of such knights. -I am, etc., AUGUgTA WHITE . July 13.'