ANIMAL WELFARE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22900, 1 December 1937, Page 16

ANIMAL WELFARE

WORK OF SOCIETY SLAUGHTERING METHODS CONDITIONS CRITICISED The conditions under which animals, particularly pigs, were slaughtered at abattoirs in New Zealand were criticised by Mr. Spencer IL Mason, prcsi-1 dent of tho Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at tho annual meeting last night. Mr. Mason referred to a proposal by which it was hoped to carry out an experiment, under conditions laid down by tlio Stock Department, to prove that tho cruelty of slaughtering might be minimised. "Without wishing to level criticism against those engaged in the industry, who are in tho grip of a system out of which they should bo assisted, I feel that better slaughtering conditions could be introduced," said Mr. Mason. "So far wo have been unable to convince the trade as to tho seriousness of tho conditions, but we hope to do so within a short period." Tho method of killing beef cattle was stated by Mr. Mason to bo fairly satisfactory, although not beyond improvement, but the lingering death suffered by sheep and pigs was "extremely disgusting." He understood tho reason, in the case of pigs, was that slow death prevented carcase infection, although it seemed odd that siuch conditions were not tolerated abroad and carcases did not suffer. Shooting of Birds Proceeding to refer to tho efforts of the New Zealand Federation of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to have various legislative measures introduced during tho year, Mr. Mason said it was hoped that it would soon be possible to' stamp out a very. distressing form of so-called sport in the shooting of live birds from traps. Cases were known of boys who reared pigeons and other birds to be sold to gun clubs, and it was not possible to say that such an occupation for boys cultivated character. "Unfortunately the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, who has charge of the department with which tho society and the federation have to deal, is a keen sportsman," said Mr. Mason. "This perhaps clouded his judgment in considering the justice of our pleas in this direction. Many sportsmen have told, me that clay birds provide shooting that is just as keen as if live birds are used, and there seems no reason why the practice should continue." Election ol Officers Tho Governor-General, Viscount Galway, and Viscountess Galway were elected patron and patroness respectively, and the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, was elected vice-patron. Mr. Spencer R. Mason was re-elected to the office of president, and 17 vice-presidents were re-elected, with the addition of the Hon. H. G. It. Mason, Attorney-General, Archbishop Averill, Bishop Liston, the Rev. A. Astor, Mr. "W. Goodfellow and Mr. E. J. Phelan. The following executive committee was elected: —Messrs. A. G. Frankham, chairman, H. Hardy, A. M. Perry, A. E. Jackson and F. J. Newbery, and Mesdames Spencer R. Mason, B. J. Marquet, C. I. Nathan and H. Knowles. Other honorary officers were elected as follows: —Solicitor, Mr. G. H. "Wallace; auditor, Mr. M. D. Gray; treasurer, Mr. R. K. "Wvlie; junior league organiser, Mrs. E. L. Burton. Honorary life membership of the society was conferred on Mrs. Spencer R. Mason and Mr. H. Hardy for services rendered. A presentation was made to the secretary, Migs 1). M. Roberts, in appreciation of her work and in view of her approaching marriage.