CRUELTY TO HORSES.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19452, 17 December 1934, Page 10

CRUELTY TO HORSES.

ORINI FARMER FINED.

WORKED WITH SORES. “This is a rather bad case, requiring three visits by the inspector to defendant’s farm at Orini,’’ slated Mr D. Seymour, appearing in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court to-day on Delia If of the Waikato Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which proceeded against David Procter for cruelty to animals. Defendant was charged with working a mare and a gelding with sore shoulders. He pleaded guilty through his counsel, Mr E. V. Stace.

Mr Seymour said there had been a certain amount of deception on defendant’s part. When the inspector first visited the farm he saw a mare with sore shoulders being worked, and three horses at the back of the farm which Procter claimed were -unbroken. On another occasion the,inspec lor noticed that these horses had sores and had also been worked. Some sores were several inches in length. The inspector stated that it was one of the worst cases of sore shoulders in horses in his experience. “ Procter has the reputation locally of acting in a somewhat primitive way towards his animals,” added counsel. Tilr Slacc explained that Procter was breaking in land with the horses and tlio sores had probably developed as a result of the dry weather and dust. Me employed -a ploughman to drive Ihe animals, and when lie (Procter) noticed I hat they were wrongly attached lo I lie plough lie lold the man, who replied I hat’ lie was experienced and that it did not matter. Some days later Procter found Hie man belabouring the beasts and dismissed him. The ploughman then went and informed the society. As soon as defendant saw the sores lie started treating them in Hie approved style lie denied, that lie had deceived the inspector. A fine of £3, wild costs, was imposed. half the fine to go to the society.