TREATMENT OF DUMB ANIMALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1928, Page 3

TREATMENT OF DUMB ANIMALS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—One summer a few years ago I was staying in Hawke’s Bay close to a Country railway station, and daily saw hundreds of sheep passing in uncovered trucks on the train, or waiting at the station; poor creatures crowded together without any shelter from the olazing sun, and apparently no provision made for drinking water during long, hot, dusty journeys. I have just been informed of the condition and treatment of sheep arriving at freezing works in Taranaki, and if correct, I think is quite time something was done to improve the conditions. While staying on sheep-farms in the country, I have been told of the cruelty to sheep driven long distances, as well as of the semi-starved condition of the faithful working dog. If the farmer only realised how much he owes his faithful dumb friends (as he is forced to realise when the price of wool and butter goes down) he would surely understand his responsibility towards them, and if the townspeople would only take one-half of the interest in helping the S.P.C.A. that some of them do in helping to spread any idle malicious bit of gossip, or in their many other pleasures, what a Paradise it would be for suffering animals, compared to present conditions? I once heard a young Scandinavian remark that the New Zealand people were very cruel to animals, and it gave me quite a shock to hear such criticism, as I always had thought our humanity was superior to that of any foreigner. I am afraid that it is a trait in human nature all the world over for the stronger, or more clever and subtle, to tyrannise over the weaker, and only fear of the law cau prevent it to any extent. Therefore the penalty for proved eases of cruelty or neglect should be severe, as a warning to others, there being so many cases which are known only to a few people who do not care for tins unpleasant task of informing. I have often met little children whose kindness and consideration for anything weak and helpless would put to shame many callous and inhumane adults. At the present time there is particular need for the inspector of the S.P.C.A. to see .that animals and poultry aro provided with water, as many people are careless in this respect at apy time, and now during the present dry spell, I am afraid they will fare badlv indeed.—l am, etc., A FRIEND OF DUMB ANIMALS. New Plymouth, Feb. 2.