ILL-TREATED HORSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21731, 21 February 1934, Page 13

ILL-TREATED HORSES

Sir.— D. S. T. Hamilton, writing in the Herald of February 17, has overlooked one point. The general public will not trouble to report cases of cruelty, nor will they act as witnesses. Moreover, numbers of people do not know when a horse is lame. Jf humane institutions would only encourage practical animal protectors in every way and so have a band, no matter bowlarge, of willing workers, at no cost, matters would bo vastly improved. Those with extensive knowledge should be especially welcomed. Any authorised person would be allowed to visit stables in the daytime, when horses are homo. Lame, sore and unfit horses then could be easily seen and the owners advised not to use them. What a ileal of pain this simple plan would save. Hoping to Help.

Sir, —In reference to the several letters appearing in your columns on the above subject: The Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is at all times prepared to investigate any cases of cruelty to horses, providing informants will give sufficiently authentic information to enable the society to locate the offenders when, if the evidence available is considered strong enough to warrant a prosecution, such steps arc immediately taken. Your correspondent "Hoping to Help" refers to having seen a very lame horse recently working on Prince's Wharf. Had this correspondent taken steps to ring up the S.P.C.A. office with such complaint, this would have been investigated immediately. The society possesses an honorary inspector whose calling occupies most of his time at the wharves and he is most diligent in watching for cruelty cases. As a result of the letters appearing in your paper this inspector, on behalf of the wharf men, who arc also, generally speaking, most zealous in connection with the well-being of horses on the wharves, has ottered to take your correspondent round the wharves at any time to enable him to appreciate that, as for the condition of horses owned and worked by the generality of the mercantile firms of Auckland, they are a credit to the firms in question, many of whom it may be mentioned are regular subscribers to the society's fnndsj. During last financial year the society brought seven prosecution cases with regard to cruelty to horses, and in all these cases secured convictions and fines. The inspector makes regular investigations with regard to hawkers' horses, and also inspects mif klloat horses in the early mornings, but. of course, it is fully recognised that it is inevitable that a number of cruelty cases in such a larjze area as the Auckland district may go undetected. The society therefore at all times welcomes co-operation by the public in giving all possible information to enable cruelty cases to be detected, and if your correspondents are in a position to supply sufficient information with regard to the cases mentioned by them, investigations will be made immediately, and the offenders prosecuted if circumstances warrant. G. M. Duncan. Secretary, S.P.C.A.