CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 13

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION A meeting of the executive of the Otngo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon. There were present Mr Crosby Morris (chairman), the Rev. W. Saunders, Messrs A. D. Sutherland, E. C. Reynolds, J. C. Willis, A. Stewart, J. M’Gregor, W. Cooper, A. Laurenson, R. Fountain. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New South Wales asking -for particulars regarding the Tailwaggers Club of New Zealand. —The discussion regarding the matter was taken in committee, and it was decided that the secretary should supply any information available. A letter was received from the Department of Internal Affairs, regarding the society’s application to bo granted an allocation in one of the large alluvial gofd art unions, asking the society to complete and forward the necessary forms. —The secretary reported that he had completed the forms, and had sent them on.—-Mr Saunders asked that his protest against the society’s - action in making this application should be recorded. He felt certain, fye said, that these art unions did an immense amount of harm.—The chairman commented that he himself was not greatly in favour of them, and in any case he did not expect that much would come ot the application, for a considerable time at least. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector (Mr J. J. Hinchcliff) reported that during the month the following complaints were' received and investigated :—• Working a Lame Horse in the City.— This horse had now been taken off the road. Working an Injured Horse at Mosgicl. —This animal had been examined and it was considered to be no hardship for it to be worked. Starving Stock and Working Horses With Sore Shoulders at Hawea Flat.— In company with Constable Mannix, of Pembroke, the inspector looked into these cases on a recent visit to Central Otago. The stock were certainly in a low condition, and he warned the owner to pay more attention to the feeding of his stock. The horses inspected had healed shoulders. This condition made it necessary to pay a visit later on in the year. Starving Stock at Poolburn— In company with Constable Wroblenski, of Ophir, the inspector visited the farm and inspected all stock. The low condition was due to over-stocking, but at the time of his visit lambs and wethers were on turnips, prior to being trucked. The owner assured him that everything was being done to lessen the number, of stock. , The inspector also reported, that the indiscriminate poisoning of dogs etill persisted at Kaikorai. The police had received complaints and were making exhaustive inquiries with a view to dealing with Jthe culprit. During the month the inspector had been called upon to destroy three horses and one dog. POISONING OF DOGS.

With regard to the poisoning of dogs, some discussion took place as to the method which should be adopted by the society to trace the miscreant. The suggestion that a private detective should be employed was considered impracticable, and it was eventually decided to publish an announcement in the ; local papers offering a reward for information leading to - the conviction of persons responsible for the poisoning of dogs. \ The suggestion was made by several members that the deaths might be due to the action of the dogs in devouring putrid meat or the carcasses of poisoned animals. The chairman, however, was of the opinion that the poison had been deliberately laid for the dogs. GENERAL. The inspector referred to the matter of steep streets in the city area, and reported that the Carriers’ Association had appointed two delegates to meet the General Committee of , the City Council regarding the matter. It had been suggested that the society should give its aid by sending a representative to the deputation. Mr Sutherland was appointed to represent the society at the deputation. Accounts amounting, to £32 6s were passed for payment. The secretary said he thought it plight be a good thing if the society appointed representatives in each district. The inspector was often called away on a “ wild-goose ” chase, and such representatives could save many of these useless trips by furnishing reports to the society on cases which came before it. The opinion was expressed that, if the names of such representatives were made public their lot would not always be an enviable one.

It was decided that the inspector should be given the power to select such representatives in country districts as he considered advisable.