SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10599, 20 February 1896, Page 2

SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

I The following is the fourteenth annual re i port to be presented to the members on j Friday :— ' i During the past year the sum of jEIOS 2s has been subscribed to the funds of the society by 210 persdns. This, though somewhat less than the amount collected in 1594, has been sufficient for our needs, and the year closes with the sub. I stantial balance of £141.10s 7d. Onehundredandthirty-sixcasesofallegedcruelty

I were investigated by your inspector. In 31 of these cases proceedings were instituted agaiust 20 persons, of whom 15 were convicted and fined in various sums, with costs, amounting in all to .£33 2s 4d. All but one of the offences were against horses. A number of complaints proved to be frivolous or of such a character that they were met by a caution, and some had to be abandoned for want of evidence. The police have also pro- . secuted successfully in several cases, and they | have rendered your society very ready and willing | assistance as in the past. - j Mr Inder, your honorary solicitor at Naseby, ■■ prosecuted both at Naseby and. Hyde on behalf of the society, and obtained couvictions in both cases. For particulars see tabulated statement. i Very great complaints continue to reach the I office as to the condition and treatment of the i tram horses, and tho haulage contractor has been * appealed-' to several times, but without much effect. Some alteration in the law appears to be ■j necessary to enable a conviction to be obtained ; against the owners of horses which are ill-used. |At present they can only be reached through ' their servants, as it is impossible to prove a ! guilty knowledge on tbeir part. ( Some convictions obtained since the.close of | the year will, it is hoped, improve matters. The j committee have had some leaflets printed for j circulation in the trams asking "passengers not to . stop the cars so frequently, aa starting puts such j a great strain on the horses'. j As in former years, the society is greatly inI debted to the honorary solicitors and veterinary surgeons, the press, the police, and the railway department for their ever ready.and valuable j assistance.. I ■ The inspector continues to give satisfaction to j the committee by bis patient and intelligent attention to his duties'.