WELLINGTON'S ZOO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 8

WELLINGTON'S ZOO

SUNDAY CHARGE REMAINS DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL The much-discussed matter of Sunday charges to the Wellington Zoo was again before the Wellington City Council recently, when Mr. R. McKeen s motion to discontinue the Sunday charge was defeated. Mr. M<£Keen said that there was a growing feeling against the zoo, but he held that it had an educative value. There was, however, a great falling-off in the Sunday attendances, and he thought the council ought to popular;ise it to the greatest extent. a greater return would probably be obtained from the trams. Mr. W. A. Appleton, who seconded the motion, said he did not think the council should make a charge on Sundays, and the charge should be reduced from Is to 6d. A good deal of the money would come back through the trams. Mr. Sem'plo said he was opposed to the motion. He considered that zoos were a relic of barbarism, and if he had his way he would do away with the zoo altogether and build homes and parks for the people. Mr. F. Meadowcroft said the zoo last year, had cost £3144. It would be a retrograde step to alter the conditions in the dying hours of the council. The motion was lost by 12 votes to 4. The' Reserves Committee of the City Council recommended that the request of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, to Animals for a new site to be obtained outside the precincts of the city for the zoo, and that a poll of the ratepayers be taken to authorise the necessary expenditure, should not be acceded to.