HORSES FROM ZOO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 13

HORSES FROM ZOO

MAN FINED FOR CRUELTY COURT CONDEMNS PRACTICE "The zoo is controlled by the City Council, I believe, but the authorities hare no right to allow horses out in such a condition," commented Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Courtyesterday during the heading of a case against a hawker, Sam Goldberg, charged with cruelty to a horse on February 23. It was stated in evidence that defendant, who pleaded not guilty, obtained the animal frpm a paddock in the zoo a week before a constable noticed the horse in a feeble condition drawing defendant's cart. Constable Rushto.ff, of Newton, said the animal was in an extremely poor state. "It had the greatest difficulty in keeping on its feet at all," stated witness. "I thought it would topple over at any moment." Witness aaded that defendant explained that he obtained the horse from the zoo authorities, where he had put another horse in a weak state in the animal's place, the horse to be shot and uaed for meat for the animals.

Senior-Sergeant Flanagan said the practice was for hawkers to be allowed to take from the zoo paddock any horse which looked as if it could be worked. In the past defendant had kept his horses in good condition. Mr. Flanagan did not think many more horses would be allowed out of the zoo in the condition of the animal defendant had used. In fining defendant 10s the magistrate said there was blame upon the zoo authorities as well as on defendant.