CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 13

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

MONTHLY MEETING OF SOCIETY

The usual monthly meeting of the executive of the Society for. the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in Mr E. S. Wilson’s board room on Tuesday afternoon, anil was attended by Sir George Fenwick (in the choir), Rev. W. Sannders, Mrs Porteous, Miss Porteous, and Messrs Crosby Morris, James M'Gregor, A. D. Sutherland, W. F. Sligo, and T. Elliott, Mr J. Craig (inspector), and Mr E. S. Wilson (secretary). The Minister of Justice (the Hon F. J. Rolleston) wrote acknowledging receipt of copy of various resolutions passed at the recent conference of New Zealand societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and a letter desiring him to further the efforts of the societies by asking Parliament to give the resolutions legislative effect. The Minister stated that he had noted the representations, and would be pleased to give them very careful consideration.—lt was resolved to acknowledge receipt of the Minister’s letter, and to state that the society deeply appreciated his promise to give the requests careful consideration. It was also decided that In the event of any amendments to the Act being drafted the society would be pleased to have advance copies of such Bill. The secretary of the Timaru Society (Mr W. D. Revel!) wrote stating that there had been some misunderstanding with regard to the question of the prohibition of live bird shooting from traps. He understood that the conference had discussed the matter, and decided to drop the subject. He noted that the Dunedin society had approached the Government asking for legislation In connection with it.—lt was decided to point out that the matter has not been dropped, and that the minutes of the recent conference corroborated this.

The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) wrote in reply to the society’s representations with regard to the destruction of injured dogs. Tho General Committee of the City Council had discussed the matter, and he (the writer) was directed to say that it was regretted that it was not legally possible to take the power suggested by the making of a by-law. The committee realised that it was very desirable that something should be done in the direction suggested by the society, but the society would no doubt realise that under existing conditions the action of any corporation employee re destroying an injured animal might lead to very serious consequences. The com-* mittee sympathised fully with the desires of the society, but was of the opinion that all that it could do for the time being, at any rate, was to take such steps as might be necessary to ensure that corporation officials should keep in close touch with the police in the matter, so that ns far as possible delay might be avoided in giving attention to any injured animal that came under the notice* of the employees.—lt was resolved to write thanking the town clerk for his reply, and to say that this matter was discussed at the conference, and an effort was being made to get an amendment of the Act.

The Inspector (Mr J. Craig) reported that since last meeting lie had visited Waikouaiti, Waitaki, Allanton, Henley, Otokia, Momona, North Taieri. Mosgiel, Woodside, Balclutha. Palmerston, and Portobello. He had also attended the sales at Burnside and the races at Wingatui. lie had cautioned three persons, one for driving a horse in poor condition, one for driving a lame horse, and one for putting | poultry in too small a box. —Received. Mr G. A. Lewin (town clerk) wrote stating that in view of the fact that it had been stated that the hansom oab horses standing on the rank in Liverpool street suffered to some extent owing to the grade of the street, the City Council’s General Committee had caused an investigation to be made both by tho Corporation Traffic Inspector and by Mr W. D. Snowball, M.R.C.V.S. Both these officers stated that they were of the opinion that the horses suffered no inconvenience whilst standing on the grade, and there could certainly bo no suggestion of cruelty while the animals were standing on tho rank. Under the circumstances, therefore, a suggestion which had also been made that the rank snouid he moved to another locality hud not been approved by the committee.—Mr Craig inspector) said the position was very exposed, and the grade was rather steep.—lt was resolved to thank the City Council for looking into the matter, and to accept Mr Snowball's opinion that no cruelty existed. The Rev. W. Saunders said his attention had been drawm to the fact that out of 183 cases of cruelty reported, 113 bad been inquired into and only three prosecutions had resulted. The chairman and he had discussed this question w T ith the inspector. Personally, he did not think that the society had initiated sufficient prosecutions. —Mr Oraig said that it was on many occasions difficult to get the necessary information to justify a prosecution. He had always endeavoured to educate people into avoiding cruelty and had never prosecuted without giving warning to the offender. —Mr Sligo said the society had got into a system of warning, and that—as explained by tho inspector-—was why so few prosecutions bad taken piace Personally, he consider 3d that very little fault could be found with their system. They wanted to educate the public against acts of cruelty, and at the same time they wanted tho public support. He was quite sure, however, that their inspector would prosecute if the circumstances justified it. He was quite sure that the society had every confidence in Mr Craig.—The Rev. W. Saunders said cases of obvious cruelty had come under his notice. For instance, he had seen a horse drawing a coal cart along George street the day and the animal had a distinct red patch under the harness. He would have spoken to the driver of the animal had it not been that he was following a funeral and was in a conveyance.— The Chairman said Mr Craig had the confidence of the society, and he was perfectly certain that every member of the council was of the same opinion.—Mr Wilson (seoretarv) said that since the activities of tho society had become better known moro cases nad been reported. He did not think that there were more cases of cruelty.—-Mr Craig corroborated this view.—The discussion terminated by an assurance from tho chairman that any action taken by tho inspector in the wav of initiating proseou* tions would be supported by the committee.