PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19406, 16 February 1925, Page 8

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

SOCIETY’S ANNUAL REPORT. Tho following aro extracts from the report of the activities of tho Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the past year, which will be submitted to the annual meeting; In presenting the forty-third annual report tho committee was pleased to bo able to say that the society had had a satisfactory year. Tho public continued to support the society in a generous manner, and many acts of cruelty were brought under the notice of tho committee and tho inspector. The interest of tho citizens in the work of tho society was very helpful, and was greatly appreciated by the committee. During the past year 150 cases of alleged cruelty were inquired into, as agiiost 140 cases m 1923, 100 in 1922, 114 in 1921, and 106 in 1920. Ten cases wer> not proceeded with for lack of evidence, 62 complaints were investigated by tho inspector and not sustained, one person was prosecuted and convicted, and 77 persons were cautioned for various offences. The membership of the Otago distuct was now 1700, as against 1680 last year. Great credit was duo to Mr J. Craig, the society's valued inspector, for the tact, energy, and perseverance with, which, he carried on his important work, and for the extraordinary success which attended his efforts to increase tho membership of the society. Mr A. Duncan, the assistant inspector, had carried on his work most satisfactorily in the Southland district. He had investigated 112 cases during the year, and of these 11 were not sustained, two persons were prosecuted and convicted, while 87 persons were cautioned for various offences. It as to be regretted that the subscriptions from the Southland district continued to show a decided decrease from year to year, and the committee had been considering whether the Southland disband district should not now bo able to again maintain its own inspector It was intended to place the matter before some of Invercargill’s prominent citizens with a view to tho formation by them of a strong committee to carry on tho work. The committee thanked the editor of the School Journal for inserting articles on kindness to animals in this publication. Mr J. A. Forbes, of Oamaru, again organised an “Animals’ AVelfare Week” throughout the dominion towards the close of last year. Arrangements were made with the ministers of churches to refer to the mutter in their pulpits, whilst superintendents of Sunday schools were asked to address the children on kindness to animals. Arrangements were also made through the various Education Boards for school teachers to address the scholars on. the same matter. This commendable movement undoubtedly caused Mr Forbes a vast amount of work, which was no doubt highly appreciated by all societies throughout the dominion. The committee was pleased to welcome back the president (Sir George Fenwick) from his trip to Britain. During his visit he had the honour of attending tho Centenary Congress of the Royal Society and of reading a paper on the work of the various societies in New Zealand at the conference. The question of tho dehorning of cattle was considered during tho year, and the various Farmers’ Unions were written to on this matter. It was very pleasing that in almost every case replies were received stating that the unions were in favour of tho society’s efforts to bring about tho general principle of having all cattle dehorned, except in the case, of purebred stock. Tho committee brought under the notice of the Dunedin City Council the number ot horses that were slipping on the streets during tho winter months, and the council agreed to place boxes filled with stand and sawdust in various parts of the city to minimise this danger. During the year Mr Isaac Stevenson was enrolled as a life member. The committee again acknowledges the excellent sex-vices rendered from time to time by Mr W. D. Snowball, one of tho society's vice-presidents, whoso valuable expert knowledge was at all times freely given to his colleagues.