WELFARE OF ANIMALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24850, 25 February 1942, Page 7

WELFARE OF ANIMALS

WORK OF OTAGO SOCIETY SIXTIETH ANNUAL MEETING The sixtieth annual meeting of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon. The president (Mr Downie Stewart) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The chairman, moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said that there were several notable features in the report vfhis year on which he thought that the society could congratulate itself. A most outstanding fact was that the society had just completed 60 years of its existence, and this in a community which was not yet 100 years old, represented a very long span. That their society should have grown and developed as it had done during the past sixty years showed that it had met a want in the community and that its record justified its existence. They were very fortunate in having prepared for them by their hon. treasurer (Mr E. C. Reynolds) a history of the society since its foundation, and no doubt they had all read it with great interest. Another gratifying feature was that they had acquired no fewer than 93 new members during the year. The speaker referred to the aims and objects of the society and said that their plan to educate the people, particularly the young people, in the care and protection of animals was bearing good fruit. He thought that the protection of animals in New Zealand could compare favourably with any other contries in the world. The large number of people in Otago who were interested in the work of their society was also a matter for congratulation. Bernard Shaw in one oi his books had put forward the opinion that the sufferings of dumb animals appealed to them more than that of human beings because of their helplessness, just as the helplessness of children appealed to them. Work in War-time

With such a wave of barbarous cruelty sweeping through Europe and Asia, however, probably the sufferings of animals would go into the background for the time being, he added. They should therefore keep alive the consciousness of the c6mmunity as to the rights of animals, and the report indeed showed that the committee of the society was alive to the danger of what might happen to animals if the war should come to our shores, and was making provision to help animals that might be injured and required treatment.

The speaker concluded by saying that the society was not working along a rut, but was always helping in new service to the community.—(Applause.) The Mayor (Mr A. H. Alien) seconded the motion and congratulated the society, on behalf of the citizens generally, for the good work it continued to do in the interests of the ; community. He said that he was very pleased to note in the report the success achieved by Welfare Week. Mr Crosby Morris drew attention to the fact that there had been a considerable decrease to the - prosecutions in the past year, as compared with previous years, and said that it showed that the work of the society was having good results. The motion was carried. i Office-bearers The following office-bearers were appointed:—President, Mr Downie Stewart; vice-presidents—Messrs Crosby Morris, E. C. Reynolds and R. Fountain; committee —the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), Messrs T. Elliott, J. R, Dickison, S. P. Leith, W. Cooper, A. Lawrenson, C. Mathieson, D. C. Cameron, M. C. Henderson, R. D. Stewart, J. Henderson, R. Kirk, S. P. Norwood, T., Irvine; hon. treasurer, Mr E. C. Reynolds; secretary, Mr E. S. Wilson; hon. veterinary surgeons, Messrs C. V. Dayus (Dunedin) and G. McDonald (Balclutha); hon Brughi Calvert and Barrowclough, W. L. Moore, Ramsay and Haggitt, Maurice Joel, Solomon, Gascoigne, Solomon, and Sinclair, A. G. Neill, A. C. Stephens, E.. A. Duncan, Adams Bros., B. S. Irwin (Dunedin), R. R. Grigor, and J. T. Walter (Balclutha), R. C. Moore (Lawrence), Bodkin and Sunderland (Alexandra). C. H. McKay (Queenstown), Arkle and Rolfe (Palmers'ton), G. H. Thomson and R. M. Rutherford (Milton),, Broderick and Parcell (Cromwell), L, J. O. Arthur (Heriot), I. J. Fraser (Ranfurly), W. R. Naylor (Tapanui); auditors, Messrs J. S. Mclnnes and Son.