ANIMAL WELFARE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 28 July 1926, Page 8

ANIMAL WELFARE

NEW ERA OF ACTIVITY

SEPARATION OF SOCIETIES

WEEK'S APPEAL TO PUBLIC

(By Elsie I\. Morton, in N.Z. Herald). the formal separation this week of the S.I’.C.A. from the Society for the Protection of Women and Children introduces a new era in animal welfare work in Auckland. Eor many years past, two very important- branches ol humane activity ha.ve operated through the one channel. The new society will devote its energies and finances'-to the one cause ami li.V affiliating with other branches throughout New Zealand, will become the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

It is particularly fitting that- the separation, advocated for several years past by those specially interested in the cause of the animals should have taken place immediately prior to Animal Welfare Week, which wiil open throughout New Zealand on 25th July. Once again the clergy, the school-teachers and the Press have been called upon to do all in their power to make Welfare Week a success, and there are indications that the strenuous work performed during the past four years bv the organiser of this humane appeal, Mr ,T. A. Forbes, of Oamaru, is bearing fruit.. The object of these aniiuaf appeals is to draw the attention of the great body of the people to tile importance and duty of just and kindly treatment of animals. To this, many people will at onco reply that they do not require organised societies to teach them how to bo kind to their dumb friends. j[t is surprising to find how often tho pleasant idea that there is no need for legal protection of animals is put forward when ono speaks of the work of tho S.P.G.A. And it is equally surprising to find how many people are ignorant of the true purpose and ideals of the society.

NO INTEREST IN ANIMALS”

A few days ago I spoke to a friend of the formation of the new S.P.C.A., and risked if she were sufficiently interested to give it her support. “No,” she replied at once, “I am far more interested in tho protection of children, and I hale the way some women coddle their pugdogs and cats. 1 think the animals are cared for quite well enough already.” Ao I told her, briefly of a couple of cases lately, of an overloaded horso battered on the head by its driver until lie had knocked out its eyes anil fractured its slaill in several places. I told her of ri- dog run over in an Auckland streets, few days ago, of the crowd that watched its agonised writhing without knowing what to do, or whom to send for to put it out of its torture, until the mangled bleeding creature dragged itself away into a- back- street to die. She agreed then that there was certainly need for a. society to punish torturers of animals, and to educate the public in one or two matters that have been overlooked.

And while on the matter of education, T also mentioned the case of some Auckland children who, while indulging in the delights of a Guy Fawkes demonstration a few months ago, conceived the idea of placing a- packet of lighted crackers in the mouth of a dog that had been enjoying a. romp with them. That, of course, was hn exceptional case, as you will at once remind me, but what about other exceptional cases that never “get into the papers?”

NEED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Any one who keeps in close touch with animal welfare work could telly of cases that sicken ancl horrify, hub it, is not my ptirposo to sadden ' you with these records of neglect and brutality. The daily press of the Dominion keeps us well in touch with such matters, in spite of the comforting. old assertion, "there is no. real cruelty to animals in New Zealand.” It may safely bo added, however, that when public support is given to the Royal S.P.C.A. in the measure it merits, when the penalty for deliberate ill-treatment and neglect is imprisonment instead of a paltry line. New Zealand will have a much cleaner record. Meantime, every sympathiser in this humane cause, every lover of animals, is urged to give his support to the newly-formed organisation* for it will need all the financial support that can he accorded to carry out its duties, to introduce reforms, long overdue, and to bring Auckland into line with cities in other parts of the world. . A STATEMENT IN PA TILT AMENT

One of the most urgent of these is the prohibition of live bird shooting. For years past, the Hon. G. M. Thomson has been making valiant efforts to induce Parliament to follow the lead of England and other civilised countries, and condemn this cruel and cowardly form of sport. As a sample of the arguments put forward in opposition. I miote one or two remarks made by the Hon, G, Witty last week: “If the bill were passed, it would he the forerunner of a measure declaring card-plaving cruel, because men lost money on it, and horse-racing similarly cruel. The horses enjoyed* the racing, and the pigeons could be heard cooing in their boxes.” When such inanities as uttered by one of the rulers of the country, it is perhaps hardly surprising that the S.P.C.A. should find its task of educating public opinion so full of difficulties and discouragement.

WINNING THE CHILDREN Tlie holding of Animal Welfare Week, accompanied as one hopes it will be, headdresses from Ihe pulpit, hv special instruction in schools, and children’s demonstrations, will result in a- quickening of interest in a most worlhv cause. Particularly important is the fart that education hoards and school teachers throughout New Zealand are giving their whole-hearted support and co-op-eration to Animal Week. A very fine spirit of love arid kindness (o animals is springing up among the children, and il is safe to say that in 'spite of occasional acts of deliberate, cruelty such as quoted above, children to-day are being taught the obligations of kindness to their pets and to the animal world generally much more thoroughly than they were a couple of generations ago. Tliey are being taught that to lie merciful' and just is one of the first requisites fogood citizenship, and that the animals are just as much a part of God’s creation as mankind itself. Humane education will go far toward reducing the need for S.P.C.A.s’ in years to come, hut. that happy time is not yet. It is a far cry back to that day over a hundred years ago. when that snloudid champion of (ho animals. Richard Martin, was jeered at and ridiculed in England’s House of Commons, but farther distant still is that- day when the cross of suffering and iil-trcatmonf shall have been tiffed entirety. ;uid God’s lesser children accorded their full rights in return for the, loyal service they render man the master. In England’s TTalls of Justice were established the first reforms that have brought about kinder and more Imninne treatment of the animals, hut in (he hearts of the people lies that deeper spirit of reform which alone can wipe out the stain that still reddens the hands of mankind.