DEHORNING OF CATTLE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 7

DEHORNING OF CATTLE

REQUIREMENTS OF THE BILL.

CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS MADE.

By Telegraph.—Press Assoeiatios.

Wellington, Last Night.

The Dehorning of Cattle Bill Sets, out that cattle are not. to be railed to or placefl in saleyards or slaughteryards unless they have been dehorned. Failure to observe this requirement ■ renders the owner of the cattle liable to a fine on summary conviction not £l'o. The Bill does not remove the. liability to perform the dehorning operation so as not to cause unnecessary pain, nor does the Bill apply- to animals born before August 1, 1932, to any animal under two and a half years of age or to any animal registered in a recognised herd book.

Introducing the Dehorning of Cattle Bill in the House of Representatives the Hon. C. E. Macmillan explained that meat exporters, hide dealers, Farmers’ Union, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other organisations favoured the measure.

Mr. Carr (Lab., Timaru) expressed op-, position to the dehorning of a adult beasts which, he contended, ' involved excruciating pain. ■ Mr. W. J. Tolson (Co., Stratford) said it entirely depended on the manner in which the dehorning was carried out whether it was painful or not in the case of adult beasts.

Mr. H. M. Campbell (Co., Hawke’s Bay) disagreed with this view and remarked that he considered the Bill would confer no benefit. After a number of other members'had expressed varying views as to the degree of pain involved in dehorning Mr. Macmillan replied emphasising that the legislation had been introduced at the request of the S.P.C.A. and other organisations. He said it =was estimated that injuries to cattle were responsible for the loss of £50,000 a year, which would be avoided if provisions of the Bill were put into effect. The Bill was read a first time. It was then read a second time pro forma and referred to the Agricultural, Pastoral and Stock Committee.