HORSES AND CATTLE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 139, 12 June 1918, Page 2

HORSES AND CATTLE

THEIR TREATMENT IN THE ! COUNTRY. Some time ago a correspondent, "Misericordia," wrote to The Post complaining of the treatment of cattle herded for sale. The animals, it was stated, were confined in yards for days without food or water. The correspondent further drew attention to the poor condition of sheep crowded in standing positions for days and nights in railway trucks. Reporting on the matter at yesterday's meeting of the Scriety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Inspector said that he had endeavoured to get in touch wilh the writer of the letter, but ! had been unable to do so. He stated ! that water was laid on in all the princi- ' pal stockyards around Wellington. Regarding the other matter, the Inspector reported that he had made enquiries from stock-drovers, stock-agents, and railway men. He was inforned that it would be against their interests to keep sheep in the tracks longer *han was necessary, as the stock depreciates in value. The Railway Department also had no desire to keep the stock closed up for ;,ny great length of tim<? us it was in its interests to keep the trucks moving to the different stock centres. "Misericordia" also

complained thit children bringing horses to school were, in some cases, unable to water their animals. Th? Inspector stated that at most schools there were taps for use by children requiring drinks, and if a bucket were used there was . nothing to prevent a. horae being watered.