CATTLE STARVED

Southland Times, Issue 22132, 28 September 1933, Page 8

CATTLE STARVED

THREE FOUND DEAD. MAGISTRATE’S STRONG COMMENT. Strong comment upon their treatment of the cattle in their care, resulting in death by starvation of three of the animals, was made by the Magistrate, Mi- E. C. Levvcy, in a case in the Police Court yesterday, in which the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Dumb Animals (Mr A. Duncan), proceeded against William David Keillor (Mokotua), the owner of the cattle, and George Aitken (Mokotua), on three charges of omitting to supply cattle with feed. Keillor pleaded guilty, and in explanation stated that he had placed the animals in Aitken’s care on a bush farm and was unaware that there was insufficient feed for the stock. Senior-Sergeant Packer said that as the result of information and investigation three of the animals were found starved to death and from all appearances very little had been done to feed them. There was little or no natural feed about the property. Keillor had no money to buy feed for the cattle and was living in straightened circumstances himself. His was a bad case. Constable Webb said he went to the property and saw the dead animals. There appeared to be no feed available for the cattle, the remainder of which were in very poor condition. Aitken was in charge of the stock. He had informed Keillor, he said, that there was no feed and Keillor wrote back telling him to dispose of the cattle. Inspector Duncan said he found three of the cattle dead and eight others in very poor condition. There was no feed, the farm being very bare. There appeared to have been no attempt to feed the cattle. Aitken said he had been doing his utmost to look after the stock. He tried to get feed for them, eventually getting turnips. His Worship: You wrote about the condition of these animals and watched them dying? Defendant: I couldn’t get any feed for them. “It is quite clear to the Court that you did not busy yourself about the poor animals at all,” said the Magistrate. “I should send £ou for a term. Don’t you realize that these animals have got feelings like humans and must be attended to?” Defendant: I had no money to get them feed. The Magistrate: You don’t deserve any consideration, but what’s the use of sending you to gaol? It’s nauseating. The Court gets hardened to this sort of case, but this one is sickening. You were placed in charge of the animals and should have seen to it that they received proper feed. Witness: It was I who informed the police about the cattle dying. I wrote to them.

Q t wasn’t enough,” remarked his Worship. “You’ll be ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within 12 months, and don’t let me hear of you acting like this again.” Keillor was also convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon.