SHEEP DIE IN RAILWAY TRUCK AT WESTPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1948, Page 6

SHEEP DIE IN RAILWAY TRUCK AT WESTPORT

A serious case was drawn to the attention of the Westport police on, Sunday and may result in action being taken by the local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says the Westport News. A truck load of sheep was allowed to remain in a siding at the stock yards near the State flax. mill from Saturday afternoon, on its arrival from Blenheim, more than a two days journey, until late on Sunday morning. The sheep were then removed to the stock yards, but only after two of them had died. Two more were in a serious condition and one died soon after being unloaded. Even when they were released from the truck they were not watered, as the vai'd has no water supply and thus did not provide much relief from their misery. A Railways Department officei said that an effort was made to advise the Westport butcher concerned, but he could not be located until Sunday morning because of his absence at the races. The consignee states that the incident during the weekend was not an isolated one and previously stock had arrived and no notice had been given for some time. He was definite in his assertion that drinking water should be provided at the