KITTEN THROWN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20275, 9 April 1934, Page 4

KITTEN THROWN.

Official Version of a “ Silly Action.” A full statement of the facts of the ‘‘kitten incident” at the boxing contest held during the inter-university tournament was given last night by Mr J. G. D. Ward, chairman of the New Zealand University Tournament Committee, who was an eye-witness of the occurrence. “As so many of the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have been interesting themselves m the kitten throwing incident at the tournament boxipg finals, and as the original report of the incident certainly made out a prima facie case for them to take up,” he said, “I feel it is now time to make a statement. Exhaustive inquiries have been made, and I wish so far as possible to correct a wrong impression held not only by the public of Christchurch but by the remainder of New Zealand. Mr Ward said that a party of three or four visiting students entered the Choral Hall, one of whom was carrying a kitten, and endeavoured to force a way on to the stage. They were order ed off and took up a position in the front row of the stalls in a central position. They took part in several hakas, and he actually saw an arm raised just before the kitten landed. From where the kitten was thrown to where it landed was a distance that could not have been more than twelve feet. “It actually landed on its feet right in front of me,” he added. “I picked it up, handed it to an attendant and proceeded with the fencing display The kitten was taken to the dressing room and was found to be uninjured This fact has been verified by an official.” The original report stated: “A university student threw a kitten . from high in the gallery to the centre of the boxing ring . . . .” It was felt, said Mr Ward, that this statement had caused the interest of the societies—not so much the throwing, but the distance the kitten was alleged to have been thrown.