SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 9

SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The annual meeting of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals „was held in the Town Hall at 4.30 on Thursday afternoon. His Honor, Mr Justice Williams, presided, and there were about 50 present — about one half being ladies. Letters of apology for non-attendance of the Rev. W. Hewitson, Mr George Fenwick, Mr H. F. Hardy, and the Hon. A. I,ee Smith were received. The Rev. Mr Hewitson, in his note, expressed his pleasure that the society had the VKual report of quiet good work being done. The annual report, which has been already published, was taken as read. B\b Honor Mr Justice Williams (the President) said: Ladies and gentlemen, — It is rery satisfactory, considering the unfortunate State of the weather, that this meeting is as well attended as it is to-day. The report presents very few new features. It must be the case in a society of this kind that the tale which we have to tell in one year is very much like the tale- we had to tell the year before. As Mr Hewitson says in his letter, the report shows that the society has been quietly doing good work. The report, I tbink, is satisfactory in many ways. It ■ chows that the number of members has in'.«ieased, the number now being 316, which lie 20 more than the previous year. It shows, ;also, that -the subaciiptions have increased, •being £120 19s, as against £111 13s 6d in 1897. That, however, would be a very small matter .unles3 there was something in the report to 'show that the society had been doing good work, and that, I think, does appear. The ' committee say that the cases of cruelty which •v/ere brought before them were scarcely as flagrant as many they have had to deal with in former years; and the inspector, in his report, says that he notices a vast improvement in the car, drag, and cab horses, and also in contractors' horses. It was found necessary in 12 cases that offenders should be piosecuted, and it is satisfactory to note that in each of these cases a conviction was obtained. That, I think, indicates that the , procedure carried on by the inspector and by the society is not of a harassing nature, that it is only in clear cases where persons are brought before the courts. The functions of the society should be more preventive than punitive, and the inspector has in 85 cases - cautioned different persons, and did not prosecute them.* The committee state in their re- ' port that representation was made to the Minister for Justice as to a statement in the • Otago Daily Times to the effect that bird hunters at tho Chatham Islands were in the r habit of breaking the legs of young albatrosses and other sea birds, and leaving them in that state for several days. The committee sent a letter to the Minister for Justice . on this 'matter, and he promised to have it . inquired into. They have heard no further on the subject. I trust that the information t that this state of things existed was not well founded. I x.egret that in the course of the ' year two members of the committee and • friends of the society have died^ — Mr Douglas, who I believe was one of the earliest veteri- - nary surgeons of the society, and Mr Meikle. " Tho committee have to thank numerous • friends, including Inspector Pardy, of the police department, for very cordial assist- | ance, the railway department, Mr Bamfield, tho contractor for railway advertising-, who , allows our notices to a2>pear without charge, the honorary officers, solicitors, veterinary Burgeons, and local agents. In the, report of . the committee for last year a case was mentioned where a person had trapped rabbits, • and had kept them alive for several days . with their legs broken. The case, as appears from the report, was not proceeded with owing to the illness of the perpetrator of the cruelty. Since then, however, it has been 'represented to the society that the mode of trapping rabbits is not what it should be, that the effect of trapping them is in many cases to break their legs, and that they are left in that condition for some days, perhaps until tho trapper goes round to take them out. Those who are engaged in pastoral pursuits will know better than I do, perhaps better than the committee do, whether such a statement' is well founded. If it is, it is to be hoped that some trap might be devised which would not have the effect of mutilating the rabbits and leaving them bleeding and in torture. Representations have also been made to tho committee of the pracitice of unnecessarily tying up horses' tails so Hhat they are unable to rid themselves of flies. I 'have been asked to mention this subject. ■ I cannot say from my own observation how far the practice prevails, and I do not know to what extent it is really remediable. The committee are always glad to receive from . any person any suggestion of any kind which . relates to the welfare of animals. The public may depend that if any complaint is brought • forward or suggestion made, it will be carefully inquired into. In closing their report . the committee say it is most desirable that - any information should be accompanied by the address of the informant, which would ' be received strictly in confidence if so desired by the writer; the committee will, however, take into consideration anonymous allegations which appear to be brought forward in good faith. I need hardly say that it is most desirable that any person who makes a coinplaint should give his name, under the assurance from the committee that it will be received in confidence if the complainant co wishes. The earlier part of the report of the committee shows the desirability that names should be given. A charge was made against a slaughterman in an anonymous letter to one of the daily papers, and the writer, when appealed to, refused to give any information as to the name of the offender. Of course the letter might just as well have been unwritten, and, indeed, better. I was " not present at the last annual meeting, and

have been absent from the colony during the last year. Until lately I was under the impression that societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals were to be found in Eng-lish-speaking countries only. However, I was much gratified tc find that in Belgium tbere was a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals which has been established for 36 years, and which is very much alive. •It proceeds much on the same lines -as our society here. They have inspectors; they re ceive complaints, an 4 they prosecute. Tb»» extent of the operations of the society may be " shown by the fact that according to their re- ' port, which I have here, during the year end- ' ing the Ist October last, no less than 665 : convictions were obtained in the city of BrusBels alone. They were of the usual kind«-for tfie ill-treatment of horses and of animals of • various kinds ; and one feature is that nearly half of the convictipns were for the ill-treat-ment of dogs. In Belgium, as many of you are aware, dogs are used, and are allowed to be used by law, under certain reatrictions, for drawing cart*, and a large proportion of ' the convictions were obUined for the illtreatment of tht^e unfoitunato animals. It is very Bati.Hf^ctory to note that the sense of duty tov,.irds our feilow beings is spread beyond Ensrlieh-mrai-ing n.dions. One could

only wish that in the nations, of South Europe, where the ill-treatment of animals is very gross, a better spirit prevailed. I have now the pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, of moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. The Rev. A. North seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. He stated that he would like to have the opportunity of expressing his pleasure and the gratification the citizens of Dunedin had in seeing his Honor again in the chair after his absence from the colony.— (Applause.) He did not think there was anything which called for special comment from him, unless it was that he might be permitted to express a hope that someone would devise a means of legitimately spending the surplus the society had accumulated. They were in danger of becoming bloated plutocrats. He had an idea that possibly they might devote some of their surplus funds to the circulation of literature of the right sort through the schools, and thus do something to deepen sympathy with the lower creatures in their sufferings, and to further aid the society in the work it was doing. There wore, he believed, some small books or pamphlets that might be adapted for this purpose, and he did not know of a better method to stimulate interest in the object the society wai working for. TETe quite confirmed what was said in one of the letters read by the chairman that the society was doing quietly efficient work. The work had been done with niuch graciousness by the. agent, and he had carefully avoided raising any feeling against himself or the society. The fact that he did such work, and that such a society was in existence, repressed cruelty to animals. — (Applause.) The motion for the adoption of the report was then carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICEBa.

Dr Hocken. proposed the re-election of Mr Justice Williams as president of the society. In doing bo, he- welcomed his Honor on his return from a well - deserved holiday. He trusted that he would live long to be able to act in the capacity as president of the society, and continue the good work which he had taken in hand. As to what the Rev. Mr North had said about influencing the children, he thought that it was most important to endeavour to develop the growth amongst young people of a. solicitude for the protection of animals. This could be further accomplished by enabling children to become members of the society at a small fee. The fact should bo impressed upon them that there are many forms of cruelty which they do not recognise, and which their seniors do not recognise. The election of his Honor was then carried. His Honor, in acknowledging the compliment, expressed his thanks to the Rev. Mr North and Dr Hocken for the kind way in which -they had referred to him.

Mr J. B. Thomson moved that the Hon. Thomas Dick and Mr George Fenwick be reelected as vice-presidents, both of whom he stated had taken a very keen interest in the society.Mr H. Ef Shaeklock seconded the motion, which was carried.

■ Mr Torrance moved that the following be elected the committee: — Mesdames D. L. Adamson, J. Allen, Dick, Edwards, Hocken, Jeffcoat, Gordon Macdonald, Howard Jacksou, Misses Marion C. Allan, E. I. G. Eliott, Isabella Mills, his Worship the Mayor (for tho time being), Hon. S. E. Shrimski, Dr Hocken, Dr Oj?ston, Messrs Colin Allan, T. S. Graham, H. F. Hardy, W. Mills, J. Robin, W. H. Taggart, D. E. Theomin, J. B. Thomson, W. Wills, and Mr Wm. Livingstone. In moving the motion, Mr Torrance said that when the society was instituted some years ago, there were some who held that it was not necessary, but the report of the work it had been doing showed that it was necessary and useful. . The motion was duly seconded and carried. The Rev. Mr Gibb moved that the following be elected honorary veterinary surgeons : — Messrs T. Cunningham (Oamaru), A. Hamilton, F. Robertson (Oamaru), and W. D. Snowball. In doing so, Mr Gibb slated that he would like to take the opportunity of expressing his pleasure at the successful operations of the society during the last 12 months. The ideal of such a society as that was to bring about a state of affair!" under which such a Bociety would no longer be necessary. It did not seem from the report that the society was approximating to that desired period, but if they went on as they had in the past, some day this 'desirable end would be achieved. Ho hoped, however, that the society would not become finical in its work, and h© made this remark from what had been said about tying up horses' tails. Nowadays there was euch a tendency for inspecting that they would next have an inspection of the articles one had at his breakfast table, lie thought the society should ascertain if it really were a cruel thing to tie up a horse's tail before it took any action. He -had seen horses in that position, and it did not strike him that they wero particularly uncomfortable on that account. In fact, the horses ho had seen like that appeared to be strong, lusty animals, and well looked after by their owrers. Ho was sure, however, that the society's work in all matters would be prudently and carefully carried out by the agent. — (Hear, hear.) At another society — the Patient* and Prisoners' _Aid Society, — it was customary to sound the praises of the agent of that body (Mr Torrance), and he thought that, as regarded the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society, they should make reference to the admirable manner in which the agent did his work. He thought the sociefcy should be congratulated in posacssing an officer so zealous, and the performance of whose duties was marked with so much common sense. — (Applause.) Mr Colin Allan briefly seconded the motion, which was carried.

The Chairman said that in ragard to Mr Gibb's remarks, it would not do for the society to be finical. No doubt the society would take every precaution and would not act without the fullest information. — (Hear, hear.)

Mr Colin Allan moved that the following be re-elected honorary solicitors for the ensuing year: — Messrs W. Allan (Mosgiel), A. Bathgate, F.-R. Cliapman, A. G. Crcagh (Oamaru), A. Crooko (Lawrence). E. C. Cutten (Nasoby), D. M. Findlay (Palmerston), D. Finlayson (Lavn-ence), J. F. M. Frascr, J. M. Gallaway, A. L. Herdmau (Naseby), W. C. MaoGrejjoi, W. D. Milne. H. Newton (Oamaru), F. D. Pratts (Port Chalmers), D. Reid (Milton), W. A. Sim, S. Solomon, D. Sttwart (Balclutha), F. J. Stillincr, W. Turton, Qi*eenstown), and E. P. Lee (Oamaru). Mr Allan said that the committee desired to express their thanks to the honorary solicitors of the society for their very valuable services.

Mr J. B. Thomson eeconded the motion. He stated that he had 'always heard the agent say that every solicitor he had met with while investigating and prosecuting cases in the country freely Tendered him every assistance, and gave him the best of advice. — (Applause.) The motion was carried. ,

Mr A. Sligo moved that Mr Quick be reelected lion, secretary. Mr Quick, he stated, had acted in that position from the commencement of the society, and was enthusiastic in the performance of his duties.

The motion was carried, and Mr Quick briefly acknowledged the honour conferred on him."

Other office-bearers elected were: — Hon. treasurer, Mr Frederick Smith; hon. agents. Messrs Glasgow Logan (Owaka) and Hadden Dennison (Oamaru). ,

Dr Hocken said he did not think that any suggestion should go forth to the public that it was proposed that the society should interfere in trifling matters. With regard to horse 3* tails, horses sometimes had their tails tied up for days, and perhaps weeks ; and while in the stable and elsewhere were unable to relieve themselves from the attacks of flies. This was not referred to as any matter of gross cruelty, but to draw attention to the fact that this practice sometimes caused the animals a good deal of" inconvenience, and that in summer time they should be permitted to use their tails for the purpose for which they were designed. — (Laughter.) On the motion of Mr Robin, a vote of thanks to the president was carried. The proceedings then closed.