MANY FARMERS CALLOUS

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3480, 16 June 1934, Page 8

MANY FARMERS CALLOUS

CRUELTY TO BOBBY CALVES ALLEGED. SOCIETY OUTLINES ABUSES. The necessity for continued agitation against cruel handling of bobby calves was emphasised in the latest report of the 'Waikato Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was contended that regulations for reform were necessary and serious complaints had been received during the year that necessitated investigation. “ Mjost of the inspector’s time had been taken up in watching the transport and handling of the defenceless bobby calves,” the report stated. “ Many abuses connected with the trade remain to be remedied, the principal being:—The practice of sending the calves too young and consequently not able to stand the journey to the freezing works. The .secretary was told by an official connected with the works that calves go through that have never been fed at all—this is a disgrace to New Zealand and if it were known in the Old Country would prejudicially affect the sale of the meat.” WAITING AT THE GATE. Tying calves up at farmers’ gates for a long period pending the arrival of the carrier w r as another abuse mentioned. Sometimes, the report alleged they were waiting without food or shelter; for 12 to 24 hours, and then might have to undergo a journey by road and rail lasting another 12 to 24 hours. Too long a period between time they were fed and slaughtered was also referred to. Last season calves coming in from the East Coast by rail to Horotiu were in numerous instances sc weak that many were dead and dying when taken out of the trucks, one train load alone having over 50 dead, and others had to be (slaughtered before going into the works. This was witnessed by one of the inspectors. “ There is a crying need for regulations to prevent calves being sent journeys that take over 24 hours from the farmers’ gates. No doubt the majority of farmers are human, but on the other hand many are callotjs about the suffering undergone by the animals and only by more stringent regulations can such be dealt with,” concluded the report. “ ft is the intention of the society to again act in co-operation with the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the New Zealand Federation in regard to this traffic. It is only by persistent agitation that the evils connected with it will be remedied.”