ANONYMOUS LETTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 192, 29 July 1932, Page 11

ANONYMOUS LETTERS

COMPLAINTS TO B.P.C.A. INFORMANT MUST SIGN NAME A large number of anonymous letters received by the inspector of the Hawke’s Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which, upon investigation, resulted in the inspector’s time being wasted on purposeless errands, formed the subject of some comment at the annual general meeting of the society held last evening in Napier, when, on the motion of Mr G. G. Stanford, it was decided that in tho future no notice would be taken of any written complaint of cruelty to animals unless the complainant signed his or her name The matter was introduced by the society's inspector (Mr C. W, Davis), who stated that he received a large number of anonymous letters, which, he was inclined to think, were written out of spite. “The society has lost £6 or £7 this year as a result of expenses incurred while investigating complaints contained in anonymous letters. In most eases I have been obliged to go into all parts of the district on false errands,” he stated. “If people hear of cases of cruelty, they should sign their names to their letters, for then they would be making it much easier for the society to investigate the matter. ’ ’

The Rev. J. A. Asher (presiding): I think it would be wise if you took uo notice of these anonymous letters. The secretary (Mr H. E. Edgley): It is an extraordinary thing that we have had more anonymous letters this year than ever before. Generally speaking they are not worth while looking at. On one occasion Mr Davis had to go right down to Dannevirke all for nothing. On the other hand, if we do ignore them, we might miss a real case of cruelty. Mr G. G. Stanford then moved tho foregoing motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Asher: I think it should be made quite clear that the utmost confidence will be given to any person who signs his name to a letter containing a complaint.