CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7176, 29 May 1891, Page 4

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

♦ MEETING OF THE PEEVENTION SOCIETY. The ninth annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, waß held at 8 p.m. yesterday in the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Society's rooms. There was a moderate attendance; the chair was occupied by Sir John Hall, and amongst those present were Mrs Julius, the Eev H. C. M. Watßon, Professor Haslam, and Mr M. Murphy, Secretary to the Society. Apologies were made forthe absence of the Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham. Sir John Hall Baid that the business of the evening. waa to receive the report of the proceedings of the Society during tbe past year, ascertaining therefrom the good work done by the Society, and, if possible, interesting the public in the Society's welfare, and so enabling it to obtain more Bupport than it had hitherto received. He would briefly refer to the work done by the Society during the year. That work, he might say, had not been of a sensational character, bat was of a steady and useful nature. They might congratulate themselves that after many disappointments a free pass on the railways throughout Canterbury had at last been obtained for their Secretary. It was obvious that that officer's work shonld not be confined to the immediate vicinity of Christchurch, and his travelling expenses had previously been a very serious drag on the Society's funds. As the Society really did police work in obtaining fines for the Government, it deserved this recognition. The establishment of the first of the Society's branches was an important step in its history, as there was no doubt that the work should be extended to the country, and man brought into more kindly contact with the brute creation. The Mayor of Ashburton had, he believed, promised his support, and this extension of the Society's work should occupy them during the coming year. The proper slaughtering of animals— though he did sot wish to imply anything againßt the persons who carried on this business — was a question which should occupy their attention, as there was no doubt that public abattoirs were necessary for sanitary purposes as well as humane considerations. He thought, however, that the conference of public bodies would give these questions full consideration. The establishment of a Ladieß' Committee, the year before last, had done much to help the Society financially, as well as in other ways. It was in the nature of woman to battle against cruelty, and it was most satisfactory to have to record the continued co-operation of the ladies. Children's branches had been most successfully established in England, where prizes for esaays written by children, and properly authenticated by schoolmaster or mistress were given. He understood that about thirty - five essays had been sent in for the Chrißtchurcb Society's competition, and these came from eight different schools. The number of competitors was not bo great as could be wished, and he hoped that the publicity given by the Press would have the result of increasing the interest taken in the subject. They had the prizes before them, and Mrs Julius would distribute them to the winners. He might mention that arrangements bad been made with the weekly papers to devote a column in each of their issues to the purpose of educating children in the kindly treatment of animals, and in this column would be published, the best of the essays written by the children. He hoped that this movement would be successful. He noticed that there waa no mention of Mr Murphy in the report, a fact which called to his mind the losb the Society had suffered through the death of the late Mr Shaw, a former indefatigable Secretary, Mr Murphy had first temporarily, and then permanently, filled the position of Secretary, and had brought to bear on the work his great ability and zeal, to the benefit of the Society. The Society had not this year done so much as it ought, bnt he hoped that those present would ÜBe every endeavour to obtain financial and other help for, and new interest in, the Society, and that members would train up their children to the kind treatment of those animals that Providence had placed nnder their care. The Secretary read the ninth annual report of the Committee, which congratulated the members upon the steady progress of the Society. The cases of cruelty which had been brought nnder the notice of the Committee were not so many, nor were they of bo serious a character as those reported last year. A i falling off in the half-crown contributions 11 •* • - j > l ' ■ L

larger contributions, mainly owing to the exertions of the Ladies' Committee, had somewhat increased. The number of mem* berß and contributors was now 208, and i the subscriptions and donations for the i past year, together with the balance ■ carried forward, amounted to £104 ls. A more liberal support was, however needed by the Society. The expenditure had been -695 6a lid, leaving a balance in hand of £8 13s ld. This amount would, however, be absorbed by outstanding liabilities. Reference waß made to the necessity for public abattoirs, a matter to which the Committee had drawn public attention during the year. It waß mentioned that a branch of the Society had been started at Ashburton, and it was hoped that the incoming Committee would endeavour to establish similar branches at Rangiora, Kaiapoi and other local centres of population. Arrangements had been made with the weekly papers to devote a column of their space each week to the interests of tho Society. This will be called the "Children's Column," aud be open to children not exceeding twelve years of age, for original anecdotes relating to kindness to animals. Prizes will be awarded from time to time, for the beßt of these original* contributions, as the funds of the Society admit. Thirty-five essays had been received for *the annual prizo competition. Sir John Hall moved the adoption of the repoit. Professor Haslam suggested that a portion of the fines inflicted in the Courts in cases of cruelty, should go to the Society. The Rev H. C. M. Watson suggested that books on the humane treatment of animals should form pait of the school curriculum. The Chairman thought that it might be advisable to petition Government on the subject. The report was adopted. Mr Murphy referred to the painstaking manner in which Mr Smith, the Society's inspector, performed his duties. Mr Murphy read the report on the essays sent in for competition, from which it appeared that the following were the suoceßß.ul children •-— Class 1., children from eight to ten — Amelia Hewißon, Fendalton school, 1 ; E. L. de Montalk, Fendalton school, 2; Barry Smith, Fendalton school, 3 ; Class 11., children from ten to twelve; Shalto Robertson, Pigeon Bay, 1 ; L. Hannan, West Christchurch school, 2 ; Annie Bean, West Christchurch school, 3. Class 111., twelve to fourteen years — Agnes K. Todd, Chertsey Bchool, 1; Dora Hitchcock, East Oxford, 2. Class IV., fourteen to sixteen — Mary A. Chick, Fendalton school, 1; Millicent Kidd, Fendalton school, 2. The prizes were presented by Mrs Julius to the successful competitors. Mrs Julius expressed regret that Bishop Julius was unable to be present. The following Committees were elected : — Ladies' Committee— Mrs Julius (President), Ladies Wilson and Hall, and Mesdames Stack, Lingard, Rose, Maude, Willock, Hussey, H. S. Brown and Embling. General Committee— Hon E. C. J. Stevens (Chairman), Rev T. Flavell, Professor Haslam, and Mesers Chas. Louisson, R. W. Fercday, J. Anderson, senr., J. Slater, J. C. Veel, A. Carrick, G. T. Booth, Alan Scott, W. Reece. P. Donald, J. C. Prudhoe, E. C. Brown, S. Manning, J. H. Parker and W.Pratt. Votes of thanks to Messrs Murphy and Smith for their valuable services, and to the Chairman for his presence, terminated the proceedings.