PREVENTION OF ORUELTY

Evening Star, Issue 16662, 19 February 1918, Page 7

PREVENTION OF ORUELTY

—« ANNUAL MEETING 0F ( THE SOCIETY. GOOD SERVICE TO DUMB ANIMALS. . The thirty-sixth annual meeting of the ' Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. About: 25 members attended. Mr G. Fenwick (president) occupied the chair, supported by Mr T. S. Graham (secretary). THE REPORT. v The principal clauses of the report were as follow .• — There were 117 cases reported upon during the year, as against 115 in 1916 a-.d 142 in 1915. Proceedings were taken in one of these caEes, and conviction obtn" e.l resulting in a fine amounting to £l, payable to the Government, the costs being £1 7s 6d. Twelve cases hit proceeded with on account at' wiwHtss of evidence, and 60 complaints were investigated, and considered no cases for various reasons. Forty-four persons we<*e cautioned for difierenfoHences ; and 26 horses, four cows, and two dogs were destroyed. The number of members is 1.231, as against 1,221 last year. This is piM.-.f of the continued energy of the inspector (Mr Craig), and a most satisfactory result, considering that between removals, deaths, and men at the war, 'ast year's roll of membership was serhvsly reduced by 140. Yet Mr Craig has brought up the number of members to 10 more than the record of last year. While Mr Craig's remarkably good work in bringing up the number of members to 10 more than the record of last year is worthy of special mention, his activity in the primary object of the society's existence—the prevention of cruelty to animals —was in no way relaxed. In city, suburbs, and country your inspector' has continued to make his presence felt, as the number of cases'reported upon shows, and the committee are satisfied that the.society continues to bo a power for good in the community. The subscriptions for 1917 amounted to £398 15s. as compared with £397 14s 3d in 1916 and £377 Is 6d in 1915. The Chairman expressed his pleasure at seeing so good an attendance. It was gratifying to the ".committee to see the members taking an interest in the affairs of the society. That the number of members of the society was greater than last year was due to the remarkable energy and the efforts of Mr J. Craig. (Applause.) It was rather astounding that Mr Craig, who had to attend to so much work of primary importance, in preventing crueltv, should be able to not onlv keep up the I membership to its full strength vear by year, but .make it stronger, it was a testimony to Mr Craig's ability and character. The society appreciated him, and evidently the public did so, too. He was doing his work remarkably well, and the society had every confidence in him. The test of this work was not the number of prosecutions. It was more important to prevent cruelty by reasonable argument and proper methods, and it was because this course was adopted that there were fewer cases to bring before the magistrates in town and country than there were some years . ago. The committee were frequently appealed to from the countrv, and when a case seemed to deserve attention the inspector was at once despatched. The work done by the society to-day was as good and perhaps better "than ever. The committee felt indebted to many persons who provided horses to meet Mr Craig at country railway stations, and to others who helped him readily. The Chairman went on to quote this clause of the report : "In March the committee received from the Royal Society in London an appeal for funds towards the erection of a'veterinary hospital for the horses of the New Zealand division at the front—a schemo in which the general officer, commanding was interested, and anxious that the hospital should be provided as soon as possible. In response to the application the committee remitted £SO towards carrying out the good object." Mr Fenwick added that the committee had no hesitation in thus helping to provide for the needs of our men's horses. He went on to refer regretfully to the loss by death of Mr Robert Giendining, wlio was always a cheerful helper, and his speech concluded with--a glad note- as to the society's financial position. Miss Porteous seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and balancesheet, and it was carried without criticism. . OFFICE-BEARERS. - Mr G. L. Denniston moved and Mr Crosby Morris seconded the re-election of Mr Fenwick as president; and the other elections resulted thus: Vice-presidents—Messrs Crosby Morris, W. Mills, and W. Livingstone. The election of committee resulted as follows: Mrs Edwards. Mrs Porteous, and Miss Porteous. His Worship.the Mayor (for the time being), Rev. W. Saunders. Mr W. D. Snowball, Rev. Morris Diamond, and Messrs A. Kilpatrick, W. F. Sligo, Thos. Elliott, Peter Johnson. John Brown. S. P. Leith', and Duncan M'Lennan (Heriot). Honorary solicitors in the City—Messrs Calvert and Bruah, Hislop and Laing. J. -M. Paterson. W. L. Moore, A. C. Hanlon, W. C. MacGresor, C. G. White. A. C Smith, J. S. Sinclair,• J. C. Stephens, S. Solomon. A. S. Adams, C. N. Rcurr, and B. S. Irwin. The'following were elected honorary solicitors for the country:Messrs D. Stewart (Balclutha). R. R Grigor (Balclutha), A. G. Creagh (Oamaru) P. C. Hjorring (Oamaru), E. P. Lee (Oamaru). H. Newton (Oamaru) R C Moore (Lawrence). Win. Alex. Bodkin (Alexannra), R. M'Keah (Clyde), A M Brodnck (Cromwell), D. R-eid" (Milton). G H. Thorn ri (Milton), R. M. Rutherford (Milton). V. C. Arklo (Palmerston), J A Aloyle (Heriot), D. L. Poppehvell (Gore) ji. R. Bowler (Gore), E. C. Smith (Gore) J J Eraser (Nasoby). H. O. Haggitt (i'ort Chalmers), and W. E. Johnston (Gore). The following hon. veterinary surgeons were elected :—Messr3 W. D. Snowball (Dimedm), W. D. Blair (Dunedin), John Danskin (Balclutha), Thos. Cunningham (Oamaru), H. £. Elphick (Gore), and H E. Martin (Oamaru). Mr T. S. Graham was re-elected secretary and lion, treasurer, and Messrs W.m. Brown and Sons were re-elected auditors.' Before dispersing, the President referred to the good attendance, which ho accepted as an evidence of appreciation of the society's work.