WHO THREW IT?

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 4

WHO THREW IT?

Kitten Episode Again Discussed. CHORAL HALL INCIDENT. “Is the society making any investigation into the allegation that, at the Varsity boxing tournament, a kitten was thrown from the gallery of the Choral Hall on to the stage?” This question, asked by a member at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, led to a brisk discussion. “ It wouldn’t do to say what I have learned up to the present—that is. if we are going to take a prosecution,” said Inspector D. J. White. He had made investigations into the charges, he said, but they were not yet completed. A difficulty was that the offender was not at Canterbury College, and had returned to the North Island. He was still working on the matter. He had spoken with Dr Hight and the caretaker of'the Choral Hall. Mr T. Gee said that he did not know anything of the matter except what he had read, and “ we can’t always believe all we read.” He had merely wanted to know what action was being taken. The incident had been referred to as a “ brutal act,” and as such had been given wide publicity. “ We have had a great deal to do with newspapers here during many years past and our experience is that they always portray matters very faithfully,” said Mr H. P. Bridge. “ I am satisfied that the reporters who reported the act in the first place did not do So lightly.” Further questions were asked Inspector White who stated that as far as his investigations had been taken the evidence was that the kitten had been thrown from the stalls. “If I divulge all I know we might as well let the matter drop,” said the inspector. “What right had the kitten there at all?” asked Mrs Dalton, when it was again asked where the kitten had been thrown from. “That is the point,” said Mr Gee. “It is immaterial where the kitten was thrown from. It was apparently thrown a matter of ten or twelve feet. I can’t imagine why anyone should have taken a poor little kitten into the hall at all. It must have been carried either in a pocket or a hand, and the fear that the poor little thing must have experienced would be terrible. It must have been frightened nearly to death. He might as well have thrashed it as subjected it to that experience.” The inspector said that he had not yet traced the kitten or its owner. It was decided to leave the matter in tne hands of the inspector for the present, and when he was ready with his evidence a special meeting of the committee could be called