CONVEYANCE OF CATTLE ON RAIL WAYS.—ALLEGED ILLUSAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9171, 28 September 1888, Page 3

CONVEYANCE OF CATTLE ON RAIL WAYS.—ALLEGED ILLUSAGE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your to-day's issue a correspondent suggests that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should take steps to prevent a continuance of the barbarous treatment of cattle of which he complains. This Society did quite recently take such steps as were in its power. Their attention was drawn to a shocking instance of abuse of this nature, and they called the attention of the railway authorities to the matter, but without any better result than a reply similar to that which you publish to-day from the District Traffic Manager. In that reply it is stated that the damage complained of is mainly done by the owners and drovers in loading, but it will be hard to convince disinterested persons that owners would so fearfully abuse their own property, or that such injuries could continually occur in loading. The railway authorities are practically our masters, and everyone knows how public and cattle are jerked along anyhow, in shunting, starting, and stopping. The traffic manager asserts in his letter that in no part of the world are cattle carried in padded trucks. It is a good thing for passengers that most of our carriages are padded.—l am, &c, A Member, of Society for Prevention* of Cruelty to Animals. Auckland, September 27, ISBB.