PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1930, Page 11

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

CONTROL OF CALF INDUSTRY. SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING. The work of the Society for the Pre* vention of Cruelty to animate was reviewed last aTThe annual-meeting, when Mr. R. C. Hughes presided over an attendance of ten. The control of the bobby calf trade was referred to and measures taken for reducing suffering during the year were outlined. The report stated that the chief event of the year had been, the conference OIUJune 18 and 19. The principal work of the conference was the consideration of the proposal for the federation of the New- Zealand societies. This was the subject of much debate and a motion was ultimately" carried -in favour ..of federation, some important societies, however, dissenting. The object was to have some body representing all the affiliated societies which should, work throughout the year and have a central office. . The work of the society m Taranaki had not been marked by any special event. The cases in which prosecutions had taken place were of the ordinary class and in nearly every case conviction followed. The efforts to prevent cruelty in respect of the bobby calf traffic had been attended with some success. Yet it still presented many deplorable features. One of the causes of cruelty was the -suffering inflicted upon these calves when being taken by train to the various freezing works. Delay often occurred owing -to trucks laden with calves being.held up at the- various places owing to the late arrival ; of a train. Thus° the calves were kept all night in open' trucks exposed .to wind and rain at a time of the year when cold was intense and weather conditions very bad. Five prosecutions were instituted, at Hawera, Eltham and Stratford against lorry drivers for alleged neglect in conveying calves to freezing works and for picking up calves less than three days old. As these proceedings affected the managers' of such works a conference was held at Hawera at which the managers of the works at Waitara, Patea and Wanganui met the president and inspector of the society and the Hawera solicitor who had instituted the proceedings. After hearing the views of Mr. Wood, veterinary ' surgeon, it was decided to accept the assurances of the managers as to exercising closer control over lorry men and to withdraw the summonses. The balance-sheet showed a rather disappointing result. The outgoings amounted to £5O 7s 6d while the income was £2l 9s Id,. showing a deficiency of £2B IlBs sd. ’ Mr. J-. Hill Motion gave an address on humane methods of killing animals. The purchase of a lethal chamber and gun was left with a sub-committee consisting of the president, secretary and Mr. Hill Motion.

The secretary and the inspector ■were granted the same honoraria as last year. Officers were elected as follow: Patron, Dr. G. Home; president, Mr. R, C. Hughes; vice-presidents, Archdeacon* F G. JEvans, Dr. R. Brewster; executive, Mesdames Martin, Ridling, Griffiths, Earp, Misses Curtis, Hamerton, Fairhall, Messrs. J. Sceats, F. W. Sandford, A. Grace, D. P. Evans, J. A. Shimmin, J. Hill Motion and Dr. R. Brewster; honorary auditor, Mr. E. Lash; secretary and * treasurer, Mr. E. L. Humphries; honorary veterinary surgeon, Mr. R. JB. Wood; inspector, Mr. B Tippens. ■