PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3263, 21 October 1897, Page 3

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

ANNUAL MEETING OP THE SOCIETY. The fourth annual meeting of the subscribers to the Society for-the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon in tho Art Gallery, when there was a large attendance, particularly of-the young members of the Bands of Mercy. Lord Ranfurly presided. His Excellency was accompanied by Lady Ranfurly and Captain Alexander and the Hon HillTrevor. Sir Robert Stout, Hon. T, W. Hislop, Hon S. E. Shrimski, Rev J. K. Elliott and members of the committee occupied seats on tho platform. Ur J. S. Jameson, secretary, read the annual report (already published in The Times) and the balance-sheet, which showed a credit balance of over £2O.

In, moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. His Excellency said that the Society had his heartiest support. Speaking of the percentage of convictions obtained by the Society in tho Law Courts, he said it did not appear to him to be large enough. At least there should be 90 to 95 per cent, more convictions in the cases taken into Court. It would be better in some oases where a conviction waa not sure to warn people and try, by means of prevention, to prevent cruelty. There was one branch that he had noticed the Society did not undertake,’ and that was to look after the - children. Such a society did not exist in New Zealand, bat he believed there waa one being talked of. He had heard many arguments advanced against these societies, and one was that cruelty to children did not exist. He had had a large experience amongst these societies in England, and cruelty to children existed there, and he thought it also , did, in a esser degree, in New Zealand. Cruelty to children waa carried out in secret and that to animals publicly, and therefore cases of the former were harder to detect. Ha trusted the committee would give this question its best consideration, and would also take this most important branch up. In consequence of the existence of the Society acts of cruelty to animalsl Jn this city were on the decrease. In conclusion, His Excellency said that he.was pleased to notice that acknowledgment had been made of the assistance rendered by the police. Sir Robert Stout, in seconding the motion, said that if children were only educated to prevent cruelty there would be-no need’ for suoh societies. He was glad to know that the Society had been so prosperous daring the past year, and hoped, it would continue to do good work. He was also pleased to find that reference was made to the services of Inspector Pender. That gentleman was a man whom to know was to respect. He had never met an officer more fair, impartial or zealous in the carrying out of his duties, and he was sure that he would always do hia bast for the Society. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr J. G. W. Aitkeh; vice-presidents. Rev J. K. Elliott, Sir Robert Stout, Hon T. W. Hislop and Messrs J. C. Martin and J. S. Jameson; hon. secretary, Mr J. S. Jameson; hon. treasurer, Mr ■A. -G. .Kemp;,, hon. solicitors, Messrs A. .R. .Atkinson, E. L. Burgess, H. Gully, T. Young, Stratton Izard and Tate; hon auditor, Mr A. S. Biss; committee, Mesdame’a Adams, Booth and Rawson, Miss Loriraer, Revs J. B. Glassou andH. Van SJaveren, Messrs p. da J. Clere, J. Danks, J. .W, Griffin, J. Ilott, Mace and W. Watson.

Lady Ranfurly then presented the' prizes offered by tho Society for competition amongst children for letter-writing with reference to cruelty to animals, Tho following are the winners’ names Deliah Heath, aged 7; Ethel; Danieli; aged 9; Norman Butler, agbd 9; Archie Goldsmith, aged 9; Elsie May, aged 12 ; George Devine, aged 11; Gwen Darnell, aged II; Earle Bremner, aged 11; .Marion Hart, aged 12; Marion Gage, aged 13; Jessie Coventry, aged 12; Robert McLaren, aged 12. Special prizes—For acts of kindness, Evelyn Warner. Best (letter against the confinement of birds in small cages— Annie Keatoh, Fanny Donald. Prize essays on the dog and oat—Edna,Dauby, Ruby Marchaut'and Evelyn Watson. A hearty vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Ranfurly concluded the meeting.