PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 2

PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE S.P.C.A. The eighth annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held at the City Conn., oil Chambers yesterday afternoon. His Excellency the 'Governor (patron of the. society) presided, and Mr James. S. Jame s on (president),. Captain Alexander, his Worship the Mayor and mem - bers of the society were present. In reviewing the work of the society during the past year, his Excellency stated that' 'twcuty..ane; persons : ;ohSrged with cruelty to animals had beefibrought '“before the local Courts, against twenty of whom convictions had been recorded.. This proved,how. careful,the, society had been an- bringing cages forward, and that they--did not do so un. less they were certain "of- getting a con., viction. Too often societies such as this ruined themselves fay over - anxiety"tc do good, and did not, as a rule, Jgo sufli-.. ciently deep - into matters before’ appealing to the law. The' report,, how., ever; showed that every care had been taken in this- respect. The report, he thought, must be considered very satisfactory. .As to the support the society had received during'.the past year there appeared to he very little ■ improve, ment on that of the previous year. The support the society was receiving could not, he thought, he 'considered satisfactory, taking into account , ;the amount of work that had to be done, and the meeting that afternoon, showtd that the interest was not being taken by the public at large that should be tu„ ken in the work of protecting dumb animals. His Excellency trusted tnat the committee to be elected' that after-, noon would be able" to interest more people in Wellington on the question they had at heart. The fact of people being interested_ in the .work would do almost a§ much in the direction of preventing cruelty being inflicted on dumb animals as the efforts of the society’s inspector. . His Excellency went *n to speak of the cruel practice of using aged and decrepit horses, a practice which, he considered, wag a very short, sighted one from a monetary point of view. People apparently lost -sight of the fact that such animals cost just as much for food, care' shoeing, etc., as sound animals. He wag sure that if this fact were brought before such people -it would have a good effect, f6r - the' host means of bringing them to reison was to appeal to their pockets. "His Excellency, confessed that the subject he was dealing with was somewhat new to luW, as m the Old Country he had not taken part in the operations of similar societies. He always felt that one should not take more work upon himself tnah he could devote his attefitidh tdr 'Hbiv ever, he had, taken an interest in the operations of a kindred society, which I ?, eefc that evening-.- the ■ Society tor the Protection of Women and Children. He moved the adoption of the ennial report and balance-sheet. „ , Jameson seconded the motea. -He stated that a large amount of good and useful work had been done through out the year. In Mr Seed, theijr inspector, the society had a zealous and able officer, who did. excellent work. One great difficulty they had :to contend against in the past had been the reluctance of a number of people , to come forward in Court 'as witnesses', ■and consequently many cases which they would like to hare dealt with in Court kad to be abandoned- He hoped during the coming year continue ed interest would be shown in. tbe-work of the society. , The report : and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. , ■ Mr Seed, the society’s inspector, re. turned thanks for the complimentary references which had been made to kit work. ■' .■■> Mr William Watson proposed the raelection of Mr James 8. Jameson ee president of the society, and in doing so referred to the valuable work which that gentleman had done during the past year. Mr Horace packer seconded the motion, which was’ unanimously carried. Following are the office-bearers; as elected for the coming year:—Patrons, the Earl and Count eas of Ranfurly; president, Mr James 8. Jameaon; vicepresidents, Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M-G., C.J., the Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. G. W. Aitken). Hob. T. W. Hislop and Mr William Watson ((all reflected): honorary eecretary, Mr F. Shaw (re. elected); honorary treasurer, Mr, F. -J. honorary veterinarian, Mr J. A. Gilmth (re-elected); committee, Mesdomes H. Adams,’ A. B. Kernot,. H. Rawson and H. R. Richmond, Misses Lorimer and R. Richmond, Rev* W> L. Salter and H. Van Staveren, Mr J. Ilott (mi reflected), with power to add to their linmber ; ‘ solicitors, Messrs A. R. Atkinson, W. L. Burgess. R. M. Tol. hurst, R. B. WilK»®». *. Young (Wellington) H. 8. Isard and B. T , at * (Greytown) and W. G- Beard (Masterten)} collector. Mr* Roulaton; wspeotor. Mr F. Seed. w . On the motion of Mr William Watson, wrote of thanks was jessed to h» Excellency the Governor for presiding at the meeting.