CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 269, 10 February 1941, Page 4

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

IS there any accredited representative of the S.P.C-A. in this district- If so we would have pleasure in diiecting him (or her) to some of the instances of crass cruelty, thoughtlessness and neglect which we have had brought to our notice. Unfortunately in most cases the persons to blame are Maoris, who through ignorance or callousness fail to notice the suffering of their stock. We have had an instance of a cow with an extended hoof growth, reported to us, at Paroa. This in itself appears to be of no great importv but when we point out that the poor brute is thrown back on its leg joints owing to the great slipperlike growth of its feet, our readers will understand the pitiable state it is in. Yet this apparently fails to touch the owners who force her to stagger into the shed* night and morning for milking. Two men on ragwort eradication work were recently over another paddock (Maori property again) and came across a young bull secured, by the nose-ring and a piece of fencing wire to a swingle-tree: on the ground. Judging from the trampled state of the ground, and the weak condition of the bull it had been tied thus for some days, and when released made straight for the water. Sheer criminal neglect, in both cases, makes the owners punishable by the utmost rigours of the law, yet we cannot believe Maori farmers woulci wilfully allow such suffering, for apart from injuring their own interests, it is not economical to allow stock to deteriorate in this manner. The evil appears to be born of a certain streak of irresponsibility, which is the handicap of most of the Maoris seeking to emulate the work of the Pakeha on the land. One Maori agriculturalist recently informed the writer that 'gatherings,' huis, or tangis had the most disastrous effects upon the average farmer. According to tribal etiquette he was expected to attend with his family whether the milking season was at its height or not. Often as a result, alternative arrangements were weak and in certain drastic instances he had known of herds to go unmilked for three days. Such information revolts the Pakeha, but it is necessary to understand the Maori point of view to learn where the real evil lies. Every Maori gathering is likely to continue long past its scheduled conclusion, and it would be a bad breach of courtesy to hasten away. Thus there is a certain amount of neglect brought about by observing the age-old customs. It is rather unfortunate that steps are not taken to enlighten these Maori farmers in this respect, and we would suggest that the responsibility rests rather with successful dairymen of their own race:, than with their Pakeha neighbours, whose interference might cause resentment and feeling.