Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 8052, 1 April 1905, Page 5

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

We are glad to learn that the reference appearing in the Standard a few days ago relative to the need for the resuscitation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has attracted very general interest in town. Yesterday Mr J. H. Hankins informed a Standard reporter that he had called a meeting some time ago but no one had attended. "He now intended to call another after the races next week and had no doubt the Society would be re-estab-lished on a thoroughly sound basis. "It is a matter,". continued Mr. Hankins| "in which I have always taken a.very keen interest. I was, you will remember, honorary solicitor for the Society when it was in working order in Palmerston. The Rev. Father Patterson.was chairman and Mr J. i)e Blois was appointed a special constable for the purposes of the Society. At that time matters went on very well indeed for some time, but gradually members left the town and' there is now but a small remnant left of the original Society. Despite that fact I have been always very ready to take up prosecutions. It is a subject I have taken a very great interest in" for years past. I think there is scarcely any other Society more worthy of support and yet it is one in which it is most difficult to get people to take a real interest in. However, now that the town is larger and more people are here than in the days referred to, I think it will be possible to hold a good meeting and get a strong backing of citizens interested in the work. The, worst of it used to be the want of funds to pay an inspectors It ■was an absurd position because he was never paid unless, indeed, he received his expenses from some gross case brought before the Court. There.was no one in town to help him, and we could not expect him to keep alive and be on the look-out continually unless he was paid for it. However, in spite of the disadvantage very good work was done, and I will call a meeting at an I early date."

In this connection it is interesting to note that a floral fete was held recently in Feilding'in aid of the funds of the local Society, and as a result £'40 5s 4d was handed over- We commend ; ihe suggestion to those who intend attending the forthcoming meeting as one.'that can be carried out at an opportune period of the year. ■