IS COURSING CRUEL?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 7

IS COURSING CRUEL?

' RESOLUTION 'T„ l'ifUiECU'iE A CLOSE VOIK At a special meeting of the Committee oi tho Society ioi" tuc ntvciitioii oi to Auuu&b, iie-d on ou.y a, me to.iouu, o motion was moved by An' 'i. \v. Jeans "That, in tho opinion ot the committee, the cums.iiß 01 waits m eneiuoUiis is >1 cruel

6pon, una that steps bu UKon by the committee to test tli.u by a. piooeciition of tnoso wno engage in the practice."—This motion was carried by six votes to four. The resolution arrived at, however, did noc moet with the approval ot some of tho weinotre, and unouiu' special meeting oi tne committee was neid jesteruay aiternoofl to oons.aer a motion brought .orwaro Dy iir \V. D. bnowbaii to recoiud the resolution of July a. In tho event of his motion being carried Mr Snowbau gave iurtner notice 01 motion, as followsWhust the prwi.ee o:

coursing within ciic;osures should not be en-

coaragud, the committee considers that it is inadvisable for it to institute a prosecution against persons wno tako pare in Plumpton counsing, us it recognises that were it to do so, it could not consistently refrain from instituting similar prosecut:on.-i against persons wio engage in tne sports oi angling, deer-stalking, the shooting of our native fauna, etc., and it is obvious 6uch action would militate seriously against the usefulness of the society in its legitimate functions."

Mr Gr. Fenwick occupied the chair, and there were about a doien ladies and gentlemen present. In referring to the object for which the meeting was called, the Chairman said lie was in entire, sympathy with Mr Snowball's motion. He had already expressed the opinion that the Bociety had made a mistake in passing its previous motion, for one reason, if for no other, that if the society was to bo con-

sistent it could not stop at tho prosecution of those only who took part in coursing matches. What was to bo said of angling? Ho did not think there was a tithe of tne cruelty involved in the killing of a hare by a greyhound that there was in the landing of a trout by means of a barbed hook in its gills. The speaker said that if the Bociety were going to embark on prosecutions of this kind it would endanger its position. Ho quite agreed, that coursing was a very poor sport indeed, and not an elevating one, and the sooner it was wiped out the better, but he did not consider it was the province of the eocicty to bring on prosecutions with this object.

Mr Snowball said ho had brought up his motion for various reasons. First of all, he believed that somo of tho members of the committee, who voted at the meeting on July 3, were not fully conversant with tho wording of tho motion then submitted, and did 60 under a slight misapprehension—at least he thought they did not favour a prosecution. Secondly, ho considered that a very large number of the members of the society were not in favour of the motion passed. Already somo members had signified their intention of refraining from contributing to the society, being of opinion that it was going too far, and asking what it was going to do next. Furthermore, he did not believe that if the 6oeiety took a caso to the court it could succeed. The speaker said he need not dilate on the good work done by the society in years past, but it had not been done by prosecutions. He considered their principal aim should bo prevention.—(Heat, hear.) If the society could not produce ovidence in court to show that coursing was actually cruel, "they must immediately lose prestige, and would bo undoing a great amount of the good work they had previously done. Mr Mills seconded the motion. The Rev. Mr Saunders said Mr Snowball had raised tho point that it would bo inexpedient for the society to prosecute, and that if it did prosecute defeat would result. Whether inexpedient or not,, it was a most deporablo thing if they should lose certain of their members, as stated by Mr Snowball, but, on the other hand, if they took action as proposed he believed they would get other members in the place of those leaving them. So far as Mr Snowball's argument as to courting defeat in a court case was concerned he himself had obtained a legal opinion on the matter, and that opinion led him to bo more optimistic than Mr Snowball. A prosecution could lie on the ground of baiting, torture, and ill-us'.ng, and if the two first-named cruelties could not be proved, he (the speaker) thought they could prove ill-usage as a result of coursing. Ho did not think the society should retreat because it thought it would be beaten. He would much prefer l to fight the case. He quite agreed that the socieij should also take action as regards pigeon shooting, more especially if what he had heard was true—that the birds were blinded m ono eye so that they might fiv an a certain direction so as to favour the puns, the speaker then asked if the chairman wou.d accept an amendment to the motion.

The. Chairman Mid , t was perhaps not quite in accordance with parliamentary procedure that an amendment should be token

of which no notioo had been given. Jf, however, the meeting was agreeable he was prepared to accept -the amendment Tlie amendment read:—"That this oommittee, whilo not prepared to prosecuto for cruelty thoso who take part in Plumpton coursing, expresses its emphatic opinion that suoh coursing is a heartless and unworthy form of sport, and therefore hopes to see it speedily abandoned." Jt was agreed to accept the amendment in 60 far as the second part of Mr Snowball s motion was concerned, and in tho event of the resolution to rescind being carried.

Mr Tlieomin seconded the amendment. He was, however, ho said, in favour of tho Mr Snowball's first motion. • They did not Want to be charged with being irrational, through taking- action in some directions and leaving ..other sport's alone. Mr Quick said he was not in favour of u 1 1 now k a ''' s m ofcion. Ho thought they * ?ct up to their name, and ho dii not believe there was anyono who would deny that there "was more or Ices cruolty in. coursing in <m enclosure, Ti'uo, there woro some other sports which might be cruel, but thero might probablv bo some excuse for them on the ground that tliev were in- ? 3 m, with tho ob J' cct °f obtaining food. They could not adva.nce this argument for coursing, however. If the committee rescinded the motion it might be charged with lack of courage. He understood that those who wont to the Plumpton meeting were agreed that the sport was more or less cruel. Tho Rev. Mr Diamond said ho saw no reason why tho committee should alter the decision arrived at at the last meeting. Those who had gone out to see the so-called sport of coursing could not adequately express their disjust with it and the sickenmV impression it mado upon tnem to see the hare twisting and doubling tr an .. on^ co ™ ur escape its pursuers, He said in his opinion coursing blunted feelings of compassion and hardened the heart against suffering. The committee could not cease to take action considering the aims and ideals of the s,ociety and its subscribers. Mr Jeans eaid he saw no reason why tho resolution of July 3 should be withdrawn. .Mr snowball s motion to rescind the previous resolution wa6 then put, and carried by 6 votes to 5. The second part of tho motion was withdrawn by Mr Snowball in favour of Mr hannders s amendment, and this, on being put, was unanimously agreed to,

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED. Mr Saunders then gave notice to move at the next ineetmg of tlie committee that it is desirable to call a public meeting of the constituents of the society to discuss the question of the cruelty of coursing.