ANIMAL WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 11

ANIMAL WELFARE

WORK OF S.P.C.A.

"TIME TO DEMAND THINGS"

SUPPORT FOR BILLS

"The time has come for the federation to demand things, not ask," said Mr.J. R. Salt (Wellington), at a meeting of the S.F.C.A. Federation yesterday, ih a discussion on a remit in connection with the six Bills dealing with animal welfare that the federation wished to have passed;

The remit read: "That the federation approach all the societies asking that before the next General Election each Parliamentary candidate in its district be invited to support the six Bills dealing with animal welfare which the federation placed before Ministers, and that these Bills be printed in pamphlet form and circulated to all societies in order that each Parliamentary candidate may be supplied with a copy and invited to make suggestions with regard to the measures proposed." . Ninety per cent, of New' Zealand's .wealth came from animals, Mr. Salt said, and the . Government should not be so shortsighted as not-to protect them. .Party objections would to some . extent retard the progress of the Bills. "The. remit is a wash-out," said Mr., J.- Fitzgerald (Nelson). "I would like to see it withdrawn." PROSPECT FOR BILLS. - Mr. A. F. Wimsett (Palmerston North) thought it was advisable to put the'remit through and bring it before the public. "The' Bills won't come on this session, though," he said. "It is sure to be a short one and members will all be quavering to get back and •do their speaking," " "After further discussion the remit 'was carried with the alteration that a summary only of the Bills should be circulated. First things must come first, said Mr. Fitzgerald, and he- expressed the hope that when the more important proposals, . such as national superannuation, which were now under consideration, were disposed of, something could be done with the Bills of the S.P.C.A. LITTLE PROGRESS MADE. The-attitude of the Government towards the Bills.arose later in the proceedings when the election of officers was being dealt with. Earlier in the day some comment had been made that having a member of Parliament as president of the society (in this case the Rev. Clyde Carr, of Timaru) was not an altogether desirable state of affairs, but the chairman, Mr. J. H. Howell, in nominating Mr. Carr for a further term of office, said: "I feel greatly disappointed, at the little progress made by the federation, but no blame is attachable to anyone. I attribute it to the political circumstances of the time. It does seem to me that while we want legislation we must have ssomeone closely associated with the Government." ' _ . "It isn't peculiar to this society that ministers cannot help us much. There are too many niprel important, matters to be attended to at the moment," said Mr. Fitzgerald, ■ Mr Carr ,was unanimously elected president for. the ,ensuing year, and other officers were elected as follows:—Chairman; •' Mi". "J7 X: Howell, (Wellington); executive, Mrs. C. Christy, Mr. J. R. ; Salt/and Colonel G. Mitchell (Wellington),. Mr. Spencer Mason (Auckland), and Mr. H. F. Herbert (Christchurch). t . , ..LEGAL EXPENSES. : • When cases are carried to the Supreme Court and succeed, should the Minister, of Justice be asked to make a grant to the society concerned to cover expenses? was a question which was fully discussed. Mr. Salt placed before members several instances where the society had lost several- quite large sums of money in Court through its endeavours to prevent cruelty to animals. "Put the facts of the case before the Government," said Mr. Fitzgerald. "Here we are with scarcely £100, trying to carry on for the whole of New Zealand. It is a State matter." It was decided on the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald to seek to have prosecutions by the society placed on the same basis as prosecutions by the police. REMITS APPROVED. The following remits were approved: "That steps be taken to have the wording of the .Police Offences Act amended, so that an alleged offender may be charged with 'causing suffering by neglect.'" ' "That a request be,made to the Government to frame regulations, if not already provided for. to regulate the 'distances that stock may be driven in any one day, or for -the provision of stated intervals of rest." This remit was referred to the executive. ""That steps be taken to inquire into the possibility of a Government subsidy for inspectors" was referred to the executive to make further representations to the Government. "That the federation be asked to make a special investigation into the transport of livestock by rail, lorry, or by droving." "That the federation be requested to endeavour to secure legislation to enable county councils, borough councils, and town boards to licence animal

"That the federation be requested to endeavour to secure legislation to enable county councils, borough councils, and town boards to licence animal homes."

"That strong objection be taken to the slaughter of pigs and sheep by. the 'wheel' system."