CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Evening Star, Issue 19349, 8 September 1926, Page 2

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

mm pREVEKnoft sosicty Present at yesterday’s meeting of the committee of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were Sir George Fenwick (chairman), Mrs and Miss Porteous, Messrs D.' Andrew, J. M. Brown, J. M'Gregor, A. D. Sutherland, W. F. Sligo, and J. Craig (inspector). VIVISECTION. “ Are wo going to do anything about tho Vivisection Bill to go before Parliament?” asked Miss Porteous. She thought ihe society should try to have vivisection made illegal in New 7 Zealand. Sir George Fenwick: I think we had better leave it alone. It is not regulated at Home by any special Act. There can be no question that there is torture. Vivisection, however, has been a very great benefit to medical men and to the human race. We are very much in the dark, and our best plan is not to bo too precipitate. We should write to the secretary of Ihe Royal Humane Society, England, and ask ior (.a copy of tho legislation in force. The suggestion was adopted. NEGLECT OF HORSES. “ I believe the rabbitens at Ornarama are in the habit of leaving their animals lor forty-eight hours without food and without shelter,” said Miss Porteous. She informed the committee that she had received her information first hand, and added that the horses were turned out into practically a dry paddock. Mr Sutherland: “I don’t think so.” Tho speaker admitted that he had not been there for a few years, but was emphatic in saying that conditions had been much the reverse. Mr Craig was asked to investigate. REWARD FOR KINDNESS. Miss Porteous said that she had .seen a boy take home a dog that was paralysed and foaming at the mouth. She thought the society might issue a certificate or send a letter of thanks in such a case. The lad was named George Nicholson, aged ten years, and lived at 335 Highgate, Maori Hill. It was decided that a letter of appreciation bo forwarded to the head master of the school,* to bo read out, and then handed to the boy to keep. ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK. The, fourth annual report of Mr J. A. Forbes on animal welfare week stated that from reports received from some of the S.P.C.A.’s private letters and newspaper cuttings sent to him be had reason to believe that this year a much wider and keener interest «amanifested. Of the larger centres of population Wellington and Auckland »eumed to have hud the most thorough organisation at work. Perhaps one u! tho most encouraging experiences he had had was the receipt of personal letters. About 3,000 circulars had been forwarded to churches and Sunday schools. While apparently many ministers did not avail themselves of Iho opportunity of bringing tho subject bcioro their congregations, a fair number did so. All public, private, lugn schools, training colleges, etc., had been communicated with, and there was no doubt whatever that teachers generally and educational authorities were increasingly alive to the importance ol humane education as a factor in character development-. Hearty co-opera-tion and assistance had boon given by ail tbe nine Now Zealand education i boards. At a number ol schools the children were permitted to lake their 1 pet nogs, cats, horses, etc., iiuo the school grounds, where a parade and demoostration was held in ihe presence ; of the teachers, pupils, and parents. - One could not conceive of a more olive- 1 tivi! way of bringing the claims ol animals before young and old alike. Editors of papers had done much to drawpublic attention to fhe week. ' The ‘ Eden Gazette ’ and the ‘ Tuatapcre Guardian ’ each ran a weekly column exclusively devoted to animal wcllaro. Ten thousand copies of a social New Zealand edition of ‘ The Little Animals’ Friend’ had been distributed in tho schools. Tho articles, stories, etc., were contributed by dominion writers. No money was more profitably spent bv tho S.P.C.A.s and other people, and with more hopeful prospects lor mo future, than the low pounds annually devoted to the purchase'-of copies ol that fine little paper. Quantities ol selected humane literature were scut to all S.P.C.A. branches, boys’ and girls’ homes, railway waiting rooms, etc. A now departure was adopted by the use of wireless appeals, and lor those the society was indebted to Sir George Fenwick and “ Aunt Diana,” ol Dunedin (the latter addressing the children). A number of newspapers were good enough to publish in lull Sir George's address. The Wellington Society had suggested that the name “ Bo Kind to Animals Week ” bo substituted for “ Animal Welfare Week,” and that the week should bo held at a time oi tho year when there would be a better opportunity of outdoor demonstrations being held'. Those and other matters in connection with th© organisation ol tho week would, ho presumed, be considered at tho next S.P.C.A. conference. Donations had not gone in as readily ns in former years, and the financial results could not be termed satisfactory. Five cf tho S.P.C.A. branches had seen lit to forward £9 17s (xi a.s a recognition of his services as honorary organiser, lie had devoted the money Ui the payment oi accounts for printing, literature, etc. The balance-sheet showed that Welfare Week had cost £fi2 7s lid-,£12 13s £W more than had been subscribed. It was mentioned that the committee had voted £5, which amount had not been included in tho list of subscriptions from societies. Mr Sligo said it> would appear a.s if tho local society had not subscribed. Several members thought the decision to assist had been reached rather late, and consequently it was agreed that £5 5s be granted towards tho finances for the next Animal Welfare Week.

Mr Sligo said that Mr Korltcs was very enthusiastic and had done an immense amount of work in connection with Welfare Week.