ZOO CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1932, Page 8

ZOO CONDITIONS

"MEND IT OR END IT"

QUESTION FOR RATEPAYERS

S.P.C.A. ATTITUDE

The opinion of the Wellington S.P.C.A., as expressed by a' deputation which waited upon the Eeserves Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon, is that the Newtown Zoo should either be greatly improved, as regards the conditions under which animals are housed, or it-should-be ended, and that ratepayers should be given an opportunity of saying whether they wish the Zoo to be continued or not.

The president of the S.^.G.A:. (Mr. G. Mitchell) said that the soeiety considered that the ratepayers should be given the first available opportunity of Baying whether they wanted the Zoo carried on. If a majority were in favour of the continuance, of the Zoo, then they should also realise that it was their duty to provide the wherewithal for the proper housing of the animals. The soeiety suggested that no fresh introductions should be made to the Zoo until conditions for present animals had been brought up'to what they should be. The soeiety had no complaints whatever to 'make in regard to the personnel or conduct of the Zoo staff, for the officers, they were satisfied, did the !v,ery bes't they could for the animals under the conditions at present obtaining and with th© monev available. ■■■■■• .-■••

Mrs. Christie suggested that if animals which died were not replaced the Zoo could fairly quickly be reduced to a point where its removal would be a simple matter. In three years 73 animals had died, of which 19 had died in nine months, and ten' within one month of admission. • Those-figures, she maintained, were proof of the cruelty to animals in confining .them in unnatural surroundings in a climate such as New .Zealand's' after warmer climates. It had been claimed that Zoo tram traffic had a good, effect upon revenue, but even at sixpence per passenger -for 35,000 visitors less than £1000 would be received to: offset a loss of £.3000 per annum on the Zoo. She agreed that the Zoo should be mended or ended. • - ■■■'■■-• , .

Mr! F. W. Rowley spoke of the inadequate provision for the< housing of the lions and. tigers; the treatment these animals he- considered anything but humane. He agreed with the suggestion for a referendum of ratepayers on the subject of the closing or continuance of the Zoo, arid said that it would be right ;also to point out that to make proper provision for the animals would cost considerably more than the'present outgoings. . DIVIDED OPINIONS, ■ The chairman of the committee (Councillor P. Meadowcroft) said, that within the limits of the money available every effort was being .made to improve the conditions at the Zoo. The whole of Sunday takings was devoted to Zoo improvement; .but, like all returns, those. takings were down at present. . The . committee \had plans before it at present for a new tiger's enclosure, but it would cost about £500, and whether that-amount eould.be provided had to. be decided. It' had already been suggested at the council table, said Councillor Meadowcroft, that the question of whether the Zoo should be closed should be referred to the ratepayers at the nest election. i> As the deputation; knew, there was a tremendous feeling in. the city with parents that the Zoo should be maintained and that children should not be deprived of the pleasure of visiting the Zoo. It had been said that to-day, wit) moving pictures in plenty, there was little need for a Zoo, but the fact was that to a child a-live animal was a very different thing to a picture of it. He agreed fully with the society that animals should be housed under the very best conditions possible and that the standard obtained in the Sydney os the Auckland Zoo should be reached if possible, but. the Auckland Zoo cost £8000 to maintain. '. .

Mr. Eowley: "The citizens: should not havo a Zoo unless they can' stand the cost." ••■..'

Mr. Mitchell: " There is no reason why the annual cost should be any. greater if the place is once put into order." : ....... ~. Councillor Meadowcrof i said that he agreed that the question should be put to the ratepayers, and if the majority decided that the Zoo should^ be continued, then their duty would be to see that the money was provided for the Zoo.. The vote had been severely cut down, and some of the men had had to be' dismissed. . The. animals could not : go. without food, and if there were insufficient money .then he thought.that the best thing-would be to get rid of some of them. The committee would give the points raised serious consideration. -