ALSATIAN DOGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 17

ALSATIAN DOGS

PROPOSAL FOR CONTROL ALLEGED DANGERS OF BREED MR. CARRINGTON'S CONTENTION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Friendly if unenthusiastic assistance was accorded the Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland), whon his Alsatian Dog Bill was read a second time in the Legislative Council to-day. Apart from the mover, only four speakers took part in the debate, and the motion was agreed to on the voices. Except that it has been made less drastic the bill is similar to measures which twice previously have survived a second reading in the Council, but which have since disappeared. Mr. Carrington mentioned that the Council had previously recognised the need for some protection, especially of women and children, against attack by Alsatian dogs. He was convinced that 90 per cent of the public desired action on the problem. On the two previous occasions in which the bill had been before the Council it had been referred to its Agricultural and Pastoral Committee, which gave considerable time to hearing representations from breeders find apologists for the breed. The evidence of these witnesses had been to show that there was no wolf strain in Alsatians, and that they were affectionate and faithful friends of their owners, continued Mr. Carrington. Little evidence had been placed before the committee in support of the bill, because of the expense of bringing witnesses to Wellington and because many people were diffident about making a case against dogs owned by their friends. He himself relied on the observations of unbiassed people who recognised dangerous traits in the dogs. The papers had contained ample evidence against Alsatians which clearly enough were liable to turn on their masters and strangers alike. Position in Australia " No other breed has been the subject of so much comment by magistrates in New Zealand," said Mr. Carrington. " A judge of the Supreme Court has stated that he wondered why the dogs had been allowed to enter the Dominion. There is a desire on the part of local bodies for legislation dealing with these animals. In Australia the menace is recognised, and the Premier of Victoria is shortly bringing down legislation for more strict control." The main provisions of the bill, Mr. Carrington said, were that all Alsatians must be registered in a separate register to that required under the Dog Registration Act; that a registration fee of £5 (£lO under the last bill) was to be imposed; and that a local body was empowered to exclude the clogs from its district. Other clauses provided for the destruction of Alsatians that bad bitten a person and for their control in public places. "Yapping Pomeranians" The Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland), in his first speech in the Chamber, questioned whether the council could not have something better with which to occupy its time than the bill before it, when so much had to be done for human beings. The bill, in any event, was not meant to destroy dangerous dogs, but dangerous Alsatian dogs. He ridiculed the clause giving local bodies authority to exclude the breed from their districts. Much had been made of the alleged propensity of Alsatians for biting people, but a record of the number of bites inflicted by yapping Pomeranians would be more illuminating. One could as well imagine an inspector going out after Alsatians with a shotgun as a similar official prowling after Pomeranians with a blunderbuss. After Mr. Carrington had replied, the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the council adjourned until next Wednesday afternoon.