S.P.C.A.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 3

S.P.C.A.

ANNUAL MEETING OS' THE society. MILLINERY AND BIRD SLAU OUTER The annuajl meeting of tho Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon, Mr J. S. Jameson (president) in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. Apologies for non-attendance wore received from his Excellency tho Governor, Ills "Worship the Mayor of Wellington, and Mr J. M. Richardson. Tho report and balance-shoot (a synopsis of which has already been published in tho ‘Times’’) wore road by the secretary. Tho president, in moving tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, said tho report would satisfy tho members of tho society and tiie general public, that tho society had accomplished some useful work during tho year just dosed. _ Special thanks were duo to tho solicitors who had so ably conducted tho society’s cases during tho year, and also to Mr Seed, tho society’s inspector, for tho able and fearless way in which ho had performed his onerous duties. The financial position of tho society was satisfactory, a result largely due to Mrs England, the society’s collector, who had also obtained a large number of new subscribers. Mr A. R. Atkinson, in seconding the motion, said that though of lato years lio had not taken an active part in the society's doings, ho had its interests just as much at heart as ho had when n working member. Sir Atkinson was Borry to know that there was no prospect of his Excellency tho Governor being with them next year. _ X/ord Ranfurly had always boon a friend of the society, and had taken a very great interest in its work, and the speaker hoped that his Excellency’s successor Would ovinco a similar interest. It was, Mr Atkinson continued, ten years since tho society began its work, and dining that time it had fully justified its existence. Tho report presented would chow to anyone who troubled to examine it that in tho year now closing tho BOcloty had done admirable work. Out of 190 cases investigated hy tho inspector, 16 had boon taken into Court, and 14 convictions had been secured. Referring to .one of the cases that was loot, Mr Atkinson said that the inspector had taken tho only proper course under tho circumstances, and had brought out tho desirableness (to avoid trouble) of people giving their explanations before going into Court. It was ajso satisfactory to know that tho Bench now took a stricter view of its duties thau it did years ago. Air Atkinson lamented the prevalences of overloading, which was on tho increase, and ho spoko of cruel tasks required of horses almost every day on Wadestown hill, where heavily-laclod carts, hearing tho name'of reputable citizens, wore to bo seen being drawn hy overladen horses. These tilings notwithstanding, Mr Atkinson was certain that tho lots of horses now were more satisfactory than they wore before tho society was started, and he was satisfied that tho effect of having such a vigilant inspector as Mr Seed was responsible for a very great deal of benefit impossible to measure hy figures. Mr Atkinson said lie had boon much struck during the last few months by tho increasing cruelty caused by fashion, ospecialjy in regard to birds —by reason of the feathers of birds being worn in the hats of ladies. A few years ago tho present Queen Consort of England did much to discourage the practice, and Mr Atkinson could not help wondering if tho prevalence of tho custom in How Zealand was duo to exporters sending out hero tho featueirs for which no demand now existed m England. Out here good kind Christian people thoughtlessly offended in tho matter. The desirableness of inculcating tho liuinanities in tho minds of children was also spoken of hy Mr Atkinson, who said that such lessons learned in youth wore never wholly forgotten. He hoped that tho society woujd not overlook this. In concluding Mr Atkinson said that the society as its duty should express its gratitude to the present Stipendiary Maigistrato, who took a more stringent view in regard to cases of cruelty than had sometimes been taken by the occupant of tho same Bench. .

The report and balance-sheet were then unanimously adopted. It having been intimated that Mr Seed -was about to relinquish his duties as inspector, because ho contemplated a trip to England, Mr William Watson said that the committee felt it could not allow Mr Seed to go away without expressing to him the society's thanks. Mr Watson would say himself that ho had been connected with the society before Mr Seed came here, and the society waa in a very different state then to what it was now in. In the old days it was more the exception than the rule to secure convictions, hut since Mr Seed had come the convictions wore in a very largo majority. That was how the record should be. Not only was that so, but Mr Seed had conducted his duties in such a way as to prevent the society from being thought badly of by outciders—outsiders other than those directly implicated in cases, slr Watson 'meant, for, of course, the society could nofc expect the goodwill of the class! Ho thought that if Mr Seed know his duties he would como back again to Wellington. He was not wanted at Horae for there the societies were Well organised and equipped; here Mr Seed waa undoubtedly needed. Mr Watcon, after having expressed a hope that Mr Seed would supply a locum tenons, finished his congratulatory remarks by moving a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Seed for his services to the society. This waa seconded by Mr Ilott. and passed by acclamation. Mr Seed, in returning _ thanks, said that ho might be back in Wellington in six or eight months’ time. Whether ho waa an inspector or not, he could assure the society that his heart would bo in the work; as long as he had a breath in his body bo hoped to be a friend to all dumb animals. (Applause.) The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, ( Mr J. S. Jameson (ro-eloctod); vice- ' presidents, his Homer the Chief Justice, his Worship the Mayor of' Wellington, the Hon T. W. Hislop and Mr William Watson; secretary and treasurer, Mr P. Shaw; surgeon, Air ‘ Gilruth. M.R.O.V.S.j committee, Mesdames H. Adams, A. E. Kcmot, W. Lingard, H. P. Rawson, Symons, Miss E. Beere, the Rev H. Van Stavcren and Messrs J. Ilott and J. M. Richardson; solicitors, Messrs A. R. Atkinson, E. 1 1. Burgess, A. I». Herdman. R. 51. Tolhurst, R. B. Williams and T. Young (W ellington), H. S. Izard and R. W. Tate (Greytown), and W. G. Board (Masterton). Votes of thanks to various officials, fiiibecrifbers, . and the press concluded the proceedings.