PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1909, Page 3

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

The fortnightly meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening, and was presided over by Mr. Jameson. There were also present : Mrs. Christie, Messrs. Richardson, Watson, and Revs. Glasson and Williams. Subscriptions totalling £5 12s 6d were received from the following : — Mr. A. de B. Brandon, £1 Is; Messrs. A. R. Atkinson and j. O'Brien, 10s 6d each; Mr. J. W. Poynton, 5s 6d ; Mrs. Lidford, Messrs. A. Raven, C. Hill and Son, D. W. Virtue, Collins Bros., F. M'Parland, M'Gill and Sons, W. Littlejohn and Son, P. Hayman and Co., S. Leary, and Kaiapoi Woollen Co., 5s | each; "B. and 8.," 3s; Messrs. B. Maloney and E. Daniel, and "Friend, 1 '" 2s each. Several cases of alleged cruelty to j animals were reported by the inspector, all of which are receiving due attention In answer to a circular letter sent by the local body seeking opinions as to the advisableness or otherwise of holding a conference of kindred societies this year, a letter was received from the Masterton Society, in which it was stated that that body had passed a resolution to the effect that it was desirous that such a meeting should be held. The only other definite reply that has been received in answer to the circular is one from the Christchurch Society, which was favourable to the proposal. The members of the local branch did not seem at all favourable to the idea, being of opinion that the coming session will be too rushed to permit of any legislation dealing with cruelty to animals being introduced. The gathering, they consider, could very well stand over till next year. Mention was made of the state of a i certain up-country coach horse, about i which a complaint had been received. It was remarked by several members that a great deal of undetected cruelty was going on daily in the country dis- i tricts where no branch of the S.P.C.A. was in 'existence. Further information as to the particular case reported is to be obtained. Amongst the accounts passed for payment wa3 a sum for the cartage of a horse which Mr. Seed had found, in a decrepit state, wanderipg on the Town Belt, and which he had killed. Mr. Seed stated that there were too many like horses found by him, the ownership of which he was unable to discover. Some time ago the inspector asked if a reward could be paid for the conviction of such owners when found, but it was considered that the society's funcU would not permit of this being done..