DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 22083, 17 July 1935, Page 14

DEHORNING OF CATTLE

SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION OTAGO S.P.C.A. SATISFIED Upon the receipt of advice to the effect that the Department of Agriculture appreciated the importance of legislation making the dehorning of cattle compulsory, yesterday’s monthly meeting_ of the Otago Society for the Prevention of _ Cruelty to. Animals decided to solicit the support of local members of Parliament in an endeavour to have the Bill, introduced last year, passed at the forthcoming session. Present were Messrs Crosby Morris (chairman), J. C. Willis, E. C. Reynolds A. D. Sutherland, W. Cooper, J. R. Dickison, G. Matheson, and J. Gordon. In response to the society’s requests for support in the anatter of obtaining legislation, sympathetic replies were received from the Canterbury, Wanganui, and Hawke’s Bay Societies. The Waikato Society was very much opposed to the measure, and the Auckland Society had yet to consider the question. Hon. W. Downio Stewart, M.P., replied that the subject was an old one, as his father had mentioned it in the House 40 years ago. As regard the present case, Mr Stewart did not give much hope of legislation being obtained unless farmer authorities either in the department or the Farmers’ Union supported it. “In a House so largely composed of farmers I am not very optimistic,” he added. Mr F. Jones, M.P., also replied offering his support in the matter, and both members forwarded information from the Minister of Agriculture, which stated that the department appreciated the importance of such a measure and that a Bill on the subject had been introduced in’ 1934. It had not been found possible to deal with the measure, which had to give way to more urgent legislation. It was proposed to reintroduce the Bill at the first convenient opportunity, but just when that was likely to be could riot now he stated. Satisfaction with the information was expressed, and it was decided to write thanking the supporting societies and correspondents, at the same time asking local members of Parliament to ha\o the matter brought forward at the coming session. APPOINTMENTS. Air Reynolds was appointed to the position, of vice-president, rendered vacant through the death of the Rev. W. Saunders, and the appointment of a committee member to fill Mr Reynolds’s place was deferred until next meeting. CRUELTY INVESTIGATED. Cases of cruelty investigated during the month were referred to in the inspector’s report. The worst was that in which a fox terrier, shot through the head and throat and left for dead, required to be destroyed. Another dog suffering from pneumonia had been found wandering in the city and destroyed, while in response to a complaint an Opoho owner, whoso dog had been kept too much on its chain, had been ordered to give it more liberty. Inquiries made in respect to another case had failed to prove that there had been’ cruelty. Two cases of cruelty to cats had been reported, one of the animals having been injured by a motor car, and both were destroyed. Two herds of poorly-fed stock had been inspected and would bo kept under observation, while the owner of an old horse had promised to take it off the road and feed it well. The report was adopted.