LESS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Southland Times, Issue 23307, 17 September 1937, Page 5

LESS CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

REPORT TO SOCIETY IMPROVEMENT IN BOBBY CALF TRADE “The efforts of the society to secure a railway pass for its inspector, Mr A Duncan, have at last proved successful,” said the president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mr E. J. Boyd) at the annual meeting last evening. “The pass was discontinued during the slump and since then deputations from the society have waited on many Ministers of the Crown in an endeavour to regain the pass. Our work has at last borne fruit, and we have to thank Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P. for what he has done towards getting it back. The pass is needed, as this body is not a wealthy one.”

Mr Boyd congratulated the inspector on the manner in which he had carried out his duties, saying that this had contributed much to the success of the society’s work. “Fewer complaints have been received lately and this may be due to the fact that feed is more plentiful this year than last, he said. “Consequently there is not the amount of starving of stock that there has been in previous years.” It was decided to hold a meeting in two months and the members were asked to try to bring some new members with diem. Office-bearers were elected as follows:—Patron, Mr J. L. McG. Watson; president, Mr E. J. Boyd; vice-presi-dents, Messrs H. J. Farrant, A. W. Jones and E. McQuarrie; committee, Mesdames J. A. Pottinger, T. Crofts, A. W. Jones and Misses H. Gilmour and J. McNaughton; secretary, Mr H. H. Royds; auditor, Mr E. E. Boyd. THE ANNUAL REPORT The annual report stated that there was a marked decrease in the number of cases of cruelty to animals in the Southland district. This must be considered most gratifying when it was remembered that the object of the society was the prevention of cruelty rather than its detection and punishment. Undoubtedly there were cases of cruelty that had not been detected, but when it was remembered that the Southland district was a very large and scattered one, it must be admitted that the inspector’s keen sense of duty was having a very beneficial effect. During the year 57 cases were dealt with by the committee, and six animals were destroyed by the inspector. In addition to this there was the usual crop of complaints which were either found unwarranted or were better dealt with by kindly advice from the inspector. “It is pleasing to note that there has been a decided improvement in the way of handling calves for the bobby calf trade,” stated the report. “During the season all receiving pens were inspected and the inspector reported that in practically every case the pens weie in a satisfactory condition. The calves have been arriving at the killing works in a much better condition than some years ago.

“In common with other societies we find at the present time a great difficutly in meeting our liabilities. The overhead expenses of the society are very small indeed and therefore we feel confident that we shall always be able to obtain sufficient public support to enable us to carry on the work of the society in a proper and fitting manner.”