PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12816, 16 July 1912, Page 6

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

The annual meeting of the , Gisborne branch of the Society for tha Prevention of- Cruelty to Animals was held at the Horough Coiuicil Chambers this afternoon. Present : Colonel Porter, L.li. (iv the. chair), Mesdames (Colonel) Porter, A.' Graham, (wJcley, K. Church, F. W. Chatterton, VV. JJ. Uoli'e, H. J. Yv'alker, Miss Oakley, Rev. F. VS\ Chatterton, Messrs I". A. deLautour, J. Peckover, and R. Thelwall. '

In submitting his tii'th annual report, tho president (Colonel Poiter) stated that the society hxid never been m such a. genuinely good working and financial position as at present. 'J.he many difficulties and the opposition that had been contended with were all overcome, and the good, humane objects of the society had been fully attained. Ihe executive honorary officers had done excellent work, and they were deserving of the society's best thanks: He urged u-poii all members to use their efforts m? obtaining new members, and any donations from those who may not wish to become active members, but were sympathisers. The hon. secretary (Mr 3H. J. Walker) reported that h'v« meetings of the general committee and three executive meetings ha<l been held during the year. I'h a number of paid-up members flood at 64, and the roll number nt 155. A 'humane killer' was obtained last May. In answer to a suggestion from the society that the subject of "Kindness to Dumb Animals" be brought more .prominently before the school children, a reply ha<l been received from the Board that- a circular drawing attention to the. mutter would shortly be iijsued to each headmaster. -Various cases of neglect and cruelty had been reported to the ■ society, and ha<l been inquired into. The tfebt of £8 that had existed at the beginning of the year had been paid off. and tJier« was a credit balance of £3 14s. 'The essay competition m the sciioo.s had not taken place: this year. • The ' inspector (Mr R. Ihelwall) reported on several cases of alleged cut'iiy tnat had byen investigated and attended to. The "humane kaller" had not yet come to hand. The reports were adopted, on the motion of Air Peckover, seconded by Mrs Church. Mr Peckover said they were injected to the- president for the interest ho had taken m the society, also to the Rev. F. W. Chatterton for assistance he had given m connection with', the finances.

The chairman moved a hearty vote of thanlcs to Mrs Walker (secretary), Miss Oakley' (collector), and Mr lhelwaU '(inspector) for the good work they had clone. — In seconding the motion, tne Rev. F. W. Chatterton .referred to the difficttlties attending the several offices. He hoped, as the presideut had remarked, that the society would soon' be m tha "position' to" remunerate the inspector, whose services were so willingly given. — Ths motion, was carried. In reply to the Rev. F. W. Chatterton, the chairman said the "humane killer" would not arrive until probably next month, as it had to be sent Home for. v .

Regarding the junior department of the society, Mrs Walker, m reply to Mr Peokover, said the committee was waiting for a, reply from Home regarding badges. Officers were elected as follows : — President, Colonel Porter, C.B. (re-elected) ; vice-president, Revs. F. \V. Ghatterton and \V. Grant, Messrs W. A. Barton and C,, A. dej>autour (ail re-elected); hon. solicitor, Mr J, H. Kirk (re-elected) ; hon. iiuditor Mr A, Graham (re-elect-ed) ; hon. veterinary surgeon, Mr S. Burton (re-elected) ; hon. secretary and treafrurer, Mrs H. J. WaJfcer (re-elect-ed) ; hon. collector, Miss K. Oakley (reelected) ; hon. inspector, Mr R. Thelwall (re-electad) ; general committee, Mesdames T. W. Porter, C. A. deLautour, W. E. Goffe, Oakley, E. Church, A. Graham, and F. W. Chatterton, Miss Oakley, Rev. P. Tamahori, Messrs J. C Field, J. R. Kirk, J. Peckover., and W. Webb.

Mr do Lautour asked if more attention could not be attracted to the objects of tho .society. He suggested communicating witji Air Reakes, head of the Go-! vernnient Veterinariai) Department, to givo a -lecture when he visjted Gisborne. It might create more interest m the society.; Another way .was to. try and approach the owners of stock through j llxi A. and P. Association, asking them for- donations and assistance. The ( society was not receiving tho support that its energies deserved.— The chairman considered the suggestions good ones, for they certainly wanted more financial assistance. — It was decided to write 'to Mr Reakes, asking him to give a- lecturo on a Saturday afternoon when ho visited (iisborne, and also to communicate with the A. and P. Associn-' tion regarding approaching the farmers tot assistance. ' j Afc tho suggestion of Mrs A. Graham. Mr de Lautour was asked ta write a letter to the press occasionally. Tho question of the essay competition m the school** wns left to tho executive to arrange.