WELFARE OF ANIMALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 12

WELFARE OF ANIMALS.

CHRISTIAN DUTY OF MERCY.

QUESTION OF IMMORTALITY.

CANON JAMES' STRONG BELIEF.

Pleaching at St. Mary's Cathedral last evening, Canon Percival Jaiges said he took it as a real privilege and pleasure to obey the bidding of those who organised Animal Welfare Week, and speak of the duty of man to those other living things whom he was pleased to call the "lower" animals. "The human race constitutes a small numerical minority of the living creatures on this planet," said the canon, "but man still contrives to make this earth a hell to countless dumb animals used for his food, his work, his play ,and his adornment. The Buddhist King, Asoka, 350 years 8.C., inculcated a religion that insisted on the obligation of mercy to every creature that lives. In India his rock inscriptions are still to be seen bidding men, among other duties, always to be mindful of their duty to animals. It is a melancholy reflection that the consciences of many in Christian lands still need to be aroused to the Christian duty of mercy toward animals." The affinity of mankind with the rest of the animal creation was being progressively revealed by advancing science, especially by the new psychology, said the preacher. We were compelled to recognise that the hypothesis of evolution was true not only of our inherited bodily structure, but also of our mental and spiritual nature. Not. our bodies only but also our minds are continuous with those of our animal ancestors. Immortality of Animals. "As to our future beyond the phenomenon called death," said the canon, "I believe in the continuity of the individuality of the lower animals, as I believe in our own immortality. I find myself in very good company in this belief, though I do not ask anyone to agree with me. It seems that animals must die in 'order that men may live. The whole question is dark and difficult. But as the unmerited sufferings of animals are, to many minds, the greatest obstacle to their faith in Divine love, it affords light and support if we can believe in the immortality of the lower animals. I can find no argument against it, which is not equally an argument against the immortality of man."

• Those who disagreed and held that the lower animals were annihilated at death, said Canon James, were under the greater obligation to see that the lower animals were alloxved to enjoy their brief existence free from preventable suffering and especially from wanton cruelty. There were more kind people than unkind in the world; there were more kind people in New Zealand than in most countries; but the few who were devilishly cruel and callous necessitated the vigilance of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and similar agencies. However our dumb fellow creatures suffered mostly from the thoughtless cruelty of ignorance, and in particular the ignorance of those who needlessly followed the prevailing fashion. The canon referred to some of the cruel excesses of sport and the hideous suffering sometimes inflicted to procure such women's adornment as aigrettes and some kinds of furs. Influence Upon Children. "If some women knew the hundredth part of the cruelty by which their finery has been gained, they would rather die than exhibit it," said the canon. He welcomed animal welfare week especially for its likely influence upon the children. It must uplift children to teach them that the Golden Rule applied not only to human kind, but to all living things that our common Father has created and for which He cares. The splendid rule which many boys' and girls were following of doing kindness wherever possible, should always be made to include kindness to animals.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. NEW ZEALAND'S GOOD EXAMPLE. Preaching on the subject of animal welfare at the Hippodrome Theatre last evening, the Rev. Jasper Calder said that New Zealand stood high among the British Dominions for her care and love of animals. Those who had travelled on the Continent, especially in Southern Europe, and had seen the brutality of the lower orde/i; among the Italian and Spanish peoples,, knew only too well what horses ana other animals had to suffer through the inhumanity of man. "Fortunately we have nothing like that callous and brut?, spirit in New Zealnnd," said the preacher, "and one reason for this is that'we have organised societies who help to create a healthy public opinion iu the matter of kindly treatment of animals. I believe it is a clerygman's duty, so far as he can, to instruct his people, young and old alike, in the simple teachings of kindness to our dumb friends."

, A vivid picture was drawn by Mr. Calder of the brutal methods of horsebreaking employed on the great American ranches before that lover of animals, David Baynton, showed how victory could be won through kindness. To break an animal's spirit, and subd.ue it through its fear, was a brutal and cowardly thing to do, and an animal thus subdued never gave such loyal or willing service as one whose life was ruled by kindness.

There was need, the preacher added, for the rousing of a strong public opinion in the matter of tin humane treatment of animals, and this was one of the chief functions of the Society for ' the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Particularly important was it that every child, should be taught to love and care for their aufmal friends, for habits of kindness thus taught in youth helped to mould and strengthen character in later life.