PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 7

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

MEETING OF SOCIETY. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by Sir George Fenwick (president), Mrs Porleous, Miss Porteous, the Rev. W. Saunders, Messrs W. F. Sligo, W. D. Snowball, Crosby Morris, J. M‘Greger, A. D. Sutherland, J. Sheppard, and J. Craig (inspector). Mr G. M. Thomson wrote asking for a list of the societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals in New Zealand. He stated that his Bill for preventing the shooting of birds from traps would come before the Legislative Council, and he wanted to secure the-support of the societies when the’measure came before the Lower House.—The Secretary stated that the information had been supplied. Messrs Adams Brothers wrote enclosing a deed of release to the administrators of the estate of Sarah Rogers for execution by the president and secretary of the society. The writers stated that they understood from Messrs Reid, Rutherford, and Marshall that £l2O would probably bo available for distribution between the society and the New Zealand Alliance.— The necessary signatures were affixed to the document.

A resident of Gore wrote asking that at a residence in Mataura three kakas were caged in a wire-netting enclosure. They had no protection whatever, the four sides and roof being unprotected and the cage standing out in the open. In one corner there was a box about the size cf a kerosene case. It was split on top, and the open side was facing south. One morning, after a severe frost, the birds were shivering in the sun about 11.20 o’clock.—Referred to the Invercargill Society:

The Secretary of the Wanganui Society wrote stating that it had been pointed out to that society that aerial wires had been the means of seriously injuring valuable carrier pigeons in their flight. To obviate this a method of stringing corks at intervals of 3ft had been adopted in Great Britain, and the Wanganui Society thought it would be desirable to have this method adopted in New Zealand. The writer asked for the co-operation of the Otago Society.—The letter was referred to the Dunedin Homing Pigeon Society for further information.

Mr R. de B Hovel!, Tolaga Bay. wrote asking if there were any cases in New Zealand in which horses tied up for hours together negligently while girthed and saddled had been held to have been subjected to unnecessary cruelty. There was also the aspect of the horse being deprived of food and water by being tied up.—Mr Snowball said that each case must be considered by itself. The climatic conditions and the time that elapsed bad to be taken into account. —It was decided to reply that the society was not aware of any cases of cruelty, and that it saw great difficulty in determining how long a horse had to he tied up before cruelty was constituted.

Mr R. Coghill wrote with reference to an oil for branding cattle. He stated that the fluid which he proposed to introduce in place of the present hot iron method would brand the animals with a legible mark without causing undue suffering. It was almost painless in its action, and would not damage the hide. Tn practice there should be no difficulty in branding 50 animals per hour as against 10 at present. The President said Mr Coghill was convinced that there was a great deal of cruelty involved in the ordinary method of branding cattle, atm no doubt there was. Mr Coglnll had shown him a scar on his arm, and had said that it had caused no pain whatever. He had also expressed his belief that it : would be an economical thing to adopt I something of the kind.—Tt was decided 1 to forward the letter to the A. and P. Society with a request for a report on the subject. ALLOCATION OF A BEQUEST. Mr H. H. Royds (secretary of th*. Southland Society) wrote with reference i to the Wellington Society’s request that 1 the societies outside Wellington should I forego any claim they might have to the ’ Mary Ann Buckley bequest of £5OO and

an interest in the residue of her estate. He stated that the committee of the Southland Society had decided that as the society considered that there was a grave doubt as to the late Mrs Buckley’s intention as to the disposal of the bequest it did not feel justified with the information at present before it in signing the consent as desired by the Wellington Socijty. Before doing anything definite the Southland Society would be pleased to know the views of the Dunedin Committee in respect to the request of the Wellington Society that it be made tho sole beneficiary in the bequest. The Secretary of the Nelson Society wrote stating that it had informed tho Wellington Society that it could not not authorise the renunciation of any claim for a share cf the bequest. The letter also stated that it would he interesting to know how long and when tho deceased lady had been a resident of Wellington.

The North Otago Society wrote asking what action the Otago Society was taking in the matter. The writer stated that the North Otago Society would not take any action until it ascertained the attitude of the other societies.

The President said this matter had been discussed at the last meeting, when they took the view that the bequest was intended for the Wellington Society. It was decided to adhere to the previous decision.