CATS AS LIVE BAITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23206, 28 November 1938, Page 8

CATS AS LIVE BAITS

TRAINING OF GREYHOUNDS , AUSTRALIAN 'ALLEGATION, AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION [fhoji otra own correspondent] SYDNEY, Nor. 18 The Chief Secretary, Mr. Gollan, has ordered an immediate police investigation into allegations made in Parliament that cats with their claws pulled out are used to train greyhounds. ■; "If true, this is cruelty of the most abominable type and I will see that offenders are punished with the utmost; rigour of the, law," he said. "Previously I have received complaints of greyhounds attacking small dogs in parks and these reports are being investigated. If it is necessary to amend the law to ensure that offenders shall be adequately punished for such loathsome offences, I will not hesitate." The allegations in Parliament wera made by Mr. Arkins, a Ministerialist, and Mr. Tonge, a Labour member. The latter said that protection for cats and other domestic animals was necessary because owners of greyhounds used them as live bait in training the doga for mechanical hare coursing. This protection, he declared, was necessary in the streets and parks, and also in tho commons adjoining various country towns. Was it a fact* lie asked, that many domestic pets had been destroyed* because greyhounds were not muzzled? Both tho Premier, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Gollan said that the charges would be investigated, and, if proved, a bill would be introduced to stop the practice.

The charges •wore supported bv th« secretary of tho Royal Society for th« Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr. Lord, who said that the society had 0' lons' been aware that cats had" bceu used as lures for greyhounds. "Every . greyhound should be muzzled when outside its own compound," Air. Lord said. "It is not uncommon to see a child or a woman in charge of five or six greyhounds which could break away to chase another animal at any, . time."