Poor Little Calves!

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

Poor Little Calves!

DEAR BOYS AND OIRLS— My letter to you this week is one I •want you all to read, for it deals with It matter that is attracting a groat deal of very unfavourable attention at the present time. Probably most of you have read some of tho press correspondence dealing with the " bobby " calf traffic. I don't know how tho word 41 bobby " aroso in this connection, but if we speak of tho victims as " baby " calves it giyes us a clearer idea of the inhumane treatment to which these ipoor little creatures are subjected. A woman reader sent me a lettor this week saving how grieved she was at the thought of the sufferings of the new-born .calves who are being sent away to be killed within a day or two of their birth, often before they have oven had one or two good feeds. This is a matter which has been tho cause of great concern to all humane people for years past, but it seemed as though the efforts of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had really brought about some definite improvement. This season, however, has brought a storm of indignant protest against the conditions/ which apparently still prevail, baby calves being sent away in shockingly immature condition, so young and weak that they are dead, or nearly dead, before they even reach the slaughter house. It is not only sad, but greatly to the discredit of a supposedly civilised community, that "such callous cruelty should be associated with any New Zealand enterprise, and farmers and all others

WILL YOU HELP?

associated with this traffic in helpless animal lifo should do their utmost to remedy the present inhumane state of affairs without delay. Many readers- will ask, "Well, what can 1 do?" Hero is something every boy and girl, every render living on a farm, can do —interest thomselves personally in the matter, and try their best to interest others, in doing something practical to help these poor little croatures, doomed so often to dio a cruel death as victims of tho " bobby " calf traffic. " Will yo'i please write a letter to the cliildron," writes my correspondent, " asking them to see that' calves are well fed before they are sent away, and not to let any small weak ones go until they are strong enough to stand the jolting in tho lorry, and the journey in a cattle truck, in which these poor little creatures are often knocked down and trampled underfoot. The children will be sure to speak to their parents about it, and the latter will probably pay heed to what they say." Will you do this, boys and girls, and thus help to stamp out tho reproach of cruelty that has for so long been associated with the bobby calf traffic? I would bo very pleased, later on, to hear of any good results you may have been able to achieve in tho way suggested. From Your Friend,