ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 12

ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK.

Seeing that mankind belongs to the animal kingdom it behoves him to lend a helping hand to those dumb animals which gave zest to life and aid him on land or water. Animal welfare week, thanks to the efforts of humane societies, is bearing fruit. In the Homeland they have their own particular problems to straighten out. For some twenty years a campaign has, been waged against the cruelties associated with the traffic in worn-out horses. These old, done horses have a meat value in Continental countries not appreciated in England. For many years appalling cruelties have been associated with the Continental traffic in horses, but through the persistent efforts of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals some improvements have been effected in recent years. Mias A. M. F. Cole, a leading advocate in the movement, at Glasgow recently said the traffic went on uninterrupted for a long time, but, as the result of public indignation, certain reforms were carried out, and in 1914 legislation was passed preventing the export of horses unless they were fit to work. The traffic was renewed after, the war, and she asserted that at least one horse in every three exported was unfit to work. She referred to “enormous vested interests” (railway companies, treed societies, etc.), which fought against their efforts to stop the traffic. These vested interests opposed them in three ways—(l) by “white-wash-ing” the export trade conditions; (2) by suppressing those who opposed it; and (3) by reviving it. The Ministry of Agriculture, she said, had always opposed them; and had refused to hold their inquiry last year in public. Her council then insisted on having their evidence published verbatim; and to 'his the Ministry had agreed. ££ie complained, however, that the evidence was published in a blue paper covered book that cost 30s; while the report, which ignored . some of the evidence, was published at one shilling. She referred to the “faking” of horses, and to the methods of slaughter at Antwerp. ‘Rotterdam, and elsewhere. It was absolutely impossible to have the horses slaughtered immediately on landing on the other side, and once they were landed, control was lost. It was pointed out that, seeing the trade existed' for useless and *‘done” horees, the economic outlet necessarily was to satisfy tbe_ propensity of (those who lived on horseflesh. Instead of being kept working till they were worn out and fit only for the knacker s yard, the horses could meet a humane end long before life became a burden to them. When the law of 1910 was passed no horse carcases were sent to the Continent; in 1920 nearly 16,000 were sent across; and when the laws governing the export of live horses were more strictly enforced, the numbers rose to nearly 60,000. Mr Webster, at the meeting referred to above, emphasised the point that if the export of live horses was stoppd, the horses could still te’ shipped as chilled carcases. Holland demanded the very best and was willing to pay for them. The great horse-using companies had to write off their horees at a certain age, and would, it was considered, welcome improved conditions on the lines formulated. While there was urgent need to press for the stopping of the traffic in live horses, pressure should be brought to hear on the authorities to provide facilities for the erection of humane horse-abattoirs.

In the foregoing connection, we venture to say that perhaps no movement of the various societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals calls for more general recognition of thoughtful people than Animal Welfare Week. This movement was only recently launched in New Zealand, a beginning being made two years ago, when those having to do with the young folk put in a busy week emphasising Hie importance of humane treatment of our dumb animals at all times and seasons. This year, some time in October, it is anticipated that the - Dominion as a whole will respond in a generous manner to the slogan “Animal Welfare Week.”