STARVED CATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 11, 13 July 1931, Page 10

STARVED CATTLE

DROUGHT NOT EXCUSE ENOUGH

(Special to "The Evening Post.") MASTEBTON, This Day. David Baillie, dairy farmer, of Mastorton, charged with failing to provide 26 head of cattle with proper and sufficient food, was convicted by^ Mr. J. Miller, S.M., yesterday, in a reserved judgment delivered in the Magistrate's Court. The defendant was fined £10. and costs, £3 14s. At the hearing two weeks ago Inspector J. Henry, of the S.P.C.A., conducted the case for the prosecution and Mr. H. B. Biss, of "Wellington, appeared for defendant. It was contended, stated the Magistrate, that the defendant was not guilty of cruelty because tho cattle were framed in normal methods in a hard season. It was admitted that the cattle wore in a poor condition, brought about by lack of feed. Tho defendant knewof the poor condition, but his defence was that the abnormal drought conditions were responsible. Tho question was whether the defendant could havo lessened the distress of the animals by taking steps reasonably availablo to him. ]?rom the description of-the cattle by the throe witnesses for the prosecution it appeared that the cattle were in a much famished condition. There was no evidence of feed having been taken to the paddock. Three of the beasts were dead and one in a very weak condition, was in a bog. The Magistrate said he thought the combination, of all circumstances, including the condition of the cattle, indicated death by starvation and feeding on. willow bark owing to starved conditions. >