DAY BY DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14716, 4 August 1921, Page 4

DAY BY DAY

By no means cribbed, cabined, and confined would seem to be Cruelty the activities in the Old to Country of the Royal Animals. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. At a recent meeting of the Society, Lord Lamhourne alluded to the fact that no fewer than live Bills for pro lection of some form of animal life were under consideration. Last month members of the House of Commons considered the third reading of a Bill introduced by Commander Kcnvvorthy to secure prohibition of the exhibition of performing animals and birds in places of public entertainment. After discussion the Bill was rejected with the assent of the member in charge of it, after lie had failed lo have an amendment carried to delete from the measure a clause affording exemption from its operation to persons licensed to train and exhibit animals. The debate, which did not lack humorous passages, shower!, as was to be expected, considerable diversity of opinion and of viewpoint. The reason why the Government did not support this Bill was apparently because it docs not consider that it has been made altogether clear that the present law is inadequate to deal with the matter. The opinion of the Home Office is that inquiry is necessary before the enactment of legislation of the rather drastic nature proposed. The members of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals contend that the Protection of Animals Act. of 1011 is far from efficacious with regard to performing animals. Lord Lambourne has not hesitated to declare thai lie looks forward to (he time when "these unnecessary and cruel exhibitions will be made illegal." Since Die records of the convictions secured by liie Society testify lo cruelties at public performances, it seems to be a fair deduction that cruelty in Inn process of training is "almost unavoidable." At a meeting in Ihe Rouse of Commons in support, of Commander Kcnworlhy's Bill a number of witnesses spoke of specific acts of e,-nelly which llioy bad personally seen. Aiiinni! Ihe instances given were those of a lion lecture,| with electric wires lo make it. roar: .1 leopard trained with the help of a spiked fork: donkeys prodded Willi spiked slicks; and monkeys fni (I In play instruments by the jerking of strings tied Lo their limbs. The Times expresses the belief that the general instinct of the public is in favour of the prohibition of cruelties of thus kind.