CATTLE BY TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1913, Page 8

CATTLE BY TRAIN

UNNECESSARY SUFFERING , ALLEGED. The case in which the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anhnals is proceeding against Albert James Cooper, stock agent, Masterton, and Thomas Vivian Caverhill, cattle buyer, Carterton, was resumed before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., to-day. The case (which stands part heard) against defendants is "that on 50th October, 1912, they caused to be conveyed from Masterton to Ngahauranga 17 head of cattle in such manner as to subject such animals to' unnecessary pain and suffering." Mr. Meredith appeared for complainant, and Mr. Blair for defendants. Mr. Blair submitted that the point as against defendants was as to the condition of the animals on the entraining at Masterton, not as to their condition on arrival in Wellington. The impression had got abroad that defendants were responsible for the condition of the cattle on arrival in Wellington, and for the fact that certain conditions were disclosed by a post-mortem examination. Counsel said he proposed to show that cattle apparently absolutely free from disease, frequently disclosed, after "being killed, diseased conditions. William Cox, farm manager,' near Masterton, who drafted the cattle, described them as a "line of potters." To his Worship : A "potter" was a little better than a "boiler," and a "canner" was equivalent to a "potter." "Potters" and "Canners" were used for tinned meat, and a "boiler" produced the hide, and was turned into a fertiliser. N To Mr. Blair : A drover had ordinarily no opportunity of judging externally whether cattle were tuberculous or not. Witn«?ss bought one of the drove, and it calved and reared a healthy calf. The animal was obviously in a healthy state. Counsel : How does the train journey from Masterton to Wellington usually affect cattle? — On a straight run through they should not be affected hardly at all. The longer they remained on the trucks the worse they got. Was that line of " potters *" any different from hundreds of other lines sent down from Masterton? — No; there is practically no difference, and I have been sending animals of this class- down regularly for the last four years. There was nothing about these animals which suggested that they were unfit for travel. To his Worship : He saw the cattle a day before they were trucked — the same time as Caverhill bought them. To Mr. Meredith: Despite expert evidence to the contrary, he would not agree that the animals were " fearfully starved." He would be surprised to know that two of the animals were dying from weakness on their arrival lin Wellington. Witness had not noticed any material blemishes in the cattle when he saw them. Counsel for defence explained at this stage that three witnesses whom he had expected from Masterton had not arrived. The case was adjourned until 2.15 p.m. to jJermit of enquiries being made with regard to the missing witnesses. On resuming, Jamee Cook, farmer, Martiiiboro-ugh, stated in reply to Mr. Blair that he reihembered Caverhill buying a line of Buchanan's cattle at the sale, varying from £2 to £2 12s 6d apiece, which was the ordinary ruling rate. They were -the average run of "canners." If a farmer bought tuberculous cows, he had no meane whatever of knowing it. He had been amongst stock most of his life, and was present at the sale as a spectator. Some cattle fared very badly on the train, particularly whilst shunting. He saw no sign of the hair being knocked off when njhe cattle were in the pens. Ordinary, good-conditioned cattlo • stood the travelling better than "canners." Mr. Blair eaid there were two other witnesses, but they were not present. His Worship said he did not propose to give a decision just now. , He would look carefully into the evidence, and also into the cases cited by counsel, before giving a decision.