PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 18

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The 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. and was attended by Sir George Fenwick (president), Mrs Porteous, Miss Porteous, Messrs D. Andrew, J. M. Brown, J. M’Gregor, A. I). Sutherland, W. F. Sligo, the Rev. W. Saunders, and J. Craig (inspector). INSPECTOR S REPORT. Mr Craig reported..that since last meeting he had visited Maheno, Waitahuna, Milton, Milburn, Waihola. Clinton, Balclutha, Otanomomo, Herbert, Hampden, Palmerston, Warkouaiti, Oamaru, Portobello, Port Chalmers, Middleffiarch, Green Island, sales at Palmerston. Balclutha, Clinton, and Burnside, and the races at Wingatui. He had cautioned five persons —two for driving horses in poor condition, one for over-driving, one for driving a lame horse, and one for driving a horse that was old and done. The report was adopted. ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK. Mr J. A. Forbes’s fourth annual report on Animal Welfare Week was as follows: Animal Welfare Week has again come and gone, and it now devolves upon me as organiser to report- generally as to what extent the week was observed throughout the Dominion. Like other new movements, it takes time before people come to appreciate and recognise fully the advantages which this annual event must have in arousing interest and evoking public sympathy for the cause of humaneness It is, of course, manifestly impossible to state definitely how much was actually done to make the week a success, for doubtless in many a quiet corner of the land good seed was sown to bear fruit in later years. However, from reports received from some of the S.P.C.A.’s private letters and newspaper cuttings sent me, 1 have reason to believe that, this year, a much wider and keener interest was manifested than in any of the three previous years. Of the larger centres of population, it should be said that Wellington and Auckland seem to have had the most thorough organisation at work, and the reports to hand from these S.P.C.A.’s are of a most interesting and inspiring character. Perhaps one of the most encouraging experiences I have had is the receipt of personal letters, proving the whole-hearted efforts of the writers, in the face of indifference, to push on the work in their respective districts. Churches and Sunday Schools—About 3000 circulars were forwarded to these. While apparently many ministers did not avail themselves of the opportunity of bringing the subject oefore their congregations, yet a fair number did so, and no doubt these will incerase as time goes on, and Christian people get to realise the essentially religious nature of the movement. Schools.—All ' public, private, high schools, training colleges, etc., were communicated with. There is no doubt whatever that teachers generally, and educational authorities, are increasingly alive to the importance of humane education as a factor in character development. This is shown by some of the reports received, and personal letters from school teachers, a 8 well as by the hearty co-operation and assistance given by all the nine New Zealand education boards. In this connection it is pleasing to state tha. at a number of schools the children were permitted to bring their net dogs, cats, horses, etc., into the school grounds, where a parade and demonstration was held in the presence of the teachers, pupils, and parents. One cannot conceive of a more effective way of bringing the claims of animals before young and old alike, than that afforded in this interesting manner. Newspapers.—Editors of papers did much to draw public attention to the week by, in a large number of cases, writing articles, and in other ways opening their columns to matters dealing' with the subject The Eden Gazette and the Tuatapere Guardian each run a weekly column exclusively devoted to animal welfare, and one would be glad to hear of papers in other parts doing likewise. Literature.—Ten thousand copies of a special New Zealand edition of “The Littlo Animals’ Friend” were distributed in die schools. The articles, stories, etc., were contributed by Dominion writers, md should have appealed with special interest to our bovs and girls. I would again emphasise the desirability of encouraging the circulation of the magazine which ably conducted as it is, and coming monthly into the homes, and thus regular i# and constantly delivering its plea for kindness, cannot fail in doing good wherever it goes. Personally I consider no money is more profitably spent by the S.P.C.A.’s and other people and with more hopeful prospects for the future than the few pounds annually devoted to the purchase of copies of this fine little paper. Quantities of selected humane literature were sent to all S.P.C.A. branches, boys’ and girls’ homes, railway waiting rooms, etc. Wireless Appeals.—A new departure was this year adopted of reaching the people, and for this we are indebted to 1 George Fenwick and “Aunt Diana.” of Dunedin (the latter addressing the children), who broadcasted excellent wireless appeals for kindness to animals. A number of newspapers were good enough to publish in full Sir'George’s address, which therefore must have been heard or read by ft very large number of people. Suggestions.—Wellington Society suggests that the name “Be Kind to Animals Week” be substituted for ‘’Animal Welfare Week, and that the week should be held at a time of the year whon there would be a better opportunity of outdoor demonstrations being held. These and other matters in connection with the organisation of the week will, 1 presume, be considered at the next S.P.C.A. conference.

Finance. —Donations have not come in as readily as in former years, and 1 must point out that the financial results so far cannot be termed satisfactory. Five of the S.P.C.A. brnnehea saw fit to forward to the organiser the sum of £9 17s 6d as a recognition of his services as honorary organiser. In tho circumstances, and in

view of the state of the funds. I have now decided not to accept same, and have devoted the money thus received o the payment of accounts for printing, literature, etc. S~ It is for tho people interested in this movement, and S.P.C.A. branches in par ticular. to say definitely, whether ’n ihelr opinion the apparent benefits of Am nal Welfare Week are such as to warrant another being held next year. Should this be decided upon, the whole matter of organisation and cost must be firmly faced Kr.d dealt with in a business-like and satisfactory manner. Sir George Fenwick said the balance sheet showed that Mr Forbes was £l2 13s 9d short. It was pointed out that tho society had passed a vote of £5 to Mr Forbes at the last meeting, and that a cheque for that amount would be forwarded without delay. Sir George Fenwick said he thought there could be no doubt that Mr Forbes’s move was a good one. It must be a good thing to inculcate tho society’s principles, and he did not know of any better means of doing so. - He thought the movement should be continued, and that they should help it. Mr Sligo said be agreed with the president’s remarks He thought that a onsiderable amount of interest was being taken in the movement and that it should go on. Sir George Fenwick: I think that the committee as a whole is in sympathy vihn it. and that we should let Mr Forbes know that we shall do what we can to help it. Mr Sligo said Mr Forbes was nn on thusiast in this work. He was largely responsible for bringing out papers and .wiping to circulate them. Sir George Fenwick said he thought they were indebted to Mr Forbes in connect ton with this work. They knew that he hud been largelv instrumental in establish.ng the society in Oamaru. He had done an immense amount of good work in connection with Animal Welfare Week, and they were entitled to help him. It was agreed to make a donation of £5 5s towards the next annual effort. VIVISECTION. Miss Porteous asked if the committee was going to do anything in regard* to vivisection and try to have the Bill passed to make it illegal. Sir George Fenwick said he thought hey should leave vivisection alone. It was allowed in England on proper lines Did Miss Porteous suggest that they should oppose it? Miss Porteous said that their aim .va? to prevent cruelty, and she thought should do something to make vivisection illegal in New Zealand. The argument against it was the cruelty involved /n dissecting animals without an anesthetic. Sir George Fenwick said he thought they were very much in the dark about what the English Act contained on the übieet. There was a clause in the Crimes Prevention Act which might bring vivisection in under the word “torture.” If animals weie not under an anaesthetic it must be torture. It might be that the Act already in existence dealt with the matter. At the same time they all know how necessary vivisection had been in the interests of the human race. It had certainly been of very gie:t benefit to the medical profession in their investigations. however much it might be necessary to safeguard it. Mr Sligo said Miss Porteous might co a step further and refer to the cutting iff of lambs’ tails, about which there was a certain amount of torture. there * s n scientific aspect to be considered, and *hat was whether the same results 'Xm!d be obtained under an anaesthetic as when an animal was not under one. Miss Porteous said she thought the work could be done as well with an anaesthetic. They wanted to prevent cruelty. Sir George Fenwick said they were very much in the dark, and he thought they should not be too precipitate. He thought they should write to the secretary of the Royal Society and ask him to send a copy of the English legislation on the subject and to state generally what his own society did in regard to it. They would have ample fme to consider the matter. Sir George Fenwick’s proposal was agreed to.