CRUELTY TO STOCK

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 5

CRUELTY TO STOCK

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. A CHARGE DISMISSED. Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, MArch 21. Two young men, inexperienced in trucking stock, were prosecuted for cruelty through overcrowding a railway truck with three big cows, two heifers .and eighteen calves consigned from Hinds to Addington. The evidence indicated that an error had been made in supplying only one truck when two were ordered. On arrival at Ashburton it was found that several cattle were down. The truck accordingly was detached and the consignees’ local agents, Matson and Co., were notified. Matters remained thus all night. A constable testified that he received a complaint next morning and found mx or seven calves half dead. When the truck was unloaded three calves were found trampled to death. “MADE A BLUNDER.” The magistrate acquitted both young men without blame, saying that notifyllK agents did not relieve railway officials from the responsibility of leaving tho cattle suffering all night. tw i 8 ® 6 "! 8 to me that th© Rauway Department not come out of this ?s ‘W I have done,” he stated. the Railway Department and the consignees’ agents (Mateon and Co) have blundered. The calves should not Tn tbe ri" ed m the truck »H night In the ordinary course of events it would have been unloaded in Christchurch that night, it mirdit iJT f, J 7 the Railway Department at Ashburton has not time to attend tr> " ters, but the remedy ,A £ If* ;Tlat ' bands.” ylB Set more