S.P.C.A.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18409, 16 June 1925, Page 4

S.P.C.A.

MEETING OF GENERAL

COMMITTEE

The committee of the Canterbury 3.P.C.A. met last- night. Present: Messrs A. W. MacGillivray, J. (.). Jameson, H. F. Herbert, and A. Morton. Apologies were received from Mesdaip.es Biltcliff, Turner, uud Mr J. Spiiier. Regarding a letter from-Mr Leicester Mntson (received <it n previous meeting) suggesting that watering facilities should be provided for stock drivers over the hills from Lyttelton to the Addington yards. Mr Morton said that some years ngo Mrs Cookson. an early sottler. provided a trough on the Bridle Path and the Natives' Association erected a cross. They had not been up two months before some vandals knocked the top off the cross mid broke the trough! He did not think that any trough, unless made of wrought iron, would be ."jiovred to stand. lie was of opinion that in the case of a. great number of sheep travelling downhill the water would not run fast enough to satisfy them.

Itcoiving to Mr Morton, tho Inspector (Mr Jj. J. "White) stated that there were not many sheep being driven over the bills at present, and. there would not be many till January or February. It was decided to hold over Mr Matson's letter for consideration in January. ••

The question of Animals' "Week was discussed at some length, Some members considering that, as_ compared with the emnhnsis put on kindness to animals for one week in the year, there should be continuous emphasis throughout tlis whole of tho year. Respecting a, suggestion That'something r-ouid be done through the- schools, Mr 3lorton expressed tho opinion that teachers hail enough work ,at present. Mr Herbert said that the host work in respect of inculcating kindness to animals could bo done, in _ the infant dasres, the teachers of which had the time to devote to such instruction. It was decided to wait on the Education Board to ascertain what is being done in the matter at present, and to r.s|< for tho Board's support in approaching the Minister (if necessary) on the subject. Jt was agreed to grant £2 2s towards Animals' -Week fund *nd to write to the other societies in the Dominion and ask them to .support the movement. Begarding the Dominion conference of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the secretary of the Duncdin (Society wrote stating that they appiovcd of tho conference being held in 'Duncdin snd would be willing to make all arrangements. Ho asked the Canterbury Society to ascertain if tlio other societies were agreeable that the conference should be held in Dunedin. *

It was derided to fix the diatc of the conference for January 7th, 1926. Dr, .T. If.- Crawshaw, Assistant Medical Officer of Health, forwarded the following copy of a report by the City Council's Chief | Sanitary Inspector regarding the poul- < try saleyards:—"l have made several visits to tho poultry saleyards and found them in good order and condition. Tho basement where- tho poultry is plucked is always cleaned out after each batch is finished. I visit these saleyards every week, usually on Saturday mornings, and find thorn in a satisfactory condition. The society's inspector evidently visited the basement beforo the usual cleaning ha<j taken place." The letter was received. Mr ~\Y. D. Rcvell, secretary of the Timnru S.P.C.A., wrote respecting tho Question of providing yarding accommodation for stock arriving from tha Chatham Islands, that on arrival of the, boat the stock were driven off it on to the reclaimed land near the wharf and immediately driven into paddocks. The committee of the Timaru Society could not see tho necessity for providing yards for stock and asked if the residents of the Chatham Islands who made the complaint would give more information as to what was required. It was decided-to endeavour to get the information ask«d for. Regarding the condition of certain pigs feeding in an orchard at Styx, Mr J. Kerrigan, district, superintendent, Department of Agriculture, wrote en-closing-copy of letter sent by the Inspector of Stock to tho manager of tho orchard, in which the inspector expressed the opinion that the condition of tho pigs was due to insufficient shelter and unsuitable food, and .advised the removal of the animals to wanner quarters and to discontinue feeding them on fruit.

It was decided |to write and_ thank Mr Kerrigan for his action in this matter.

. The Inspector submitted his report, which gave in detail the action taken in respect of a number of cases of cruelty. In . several instances ho had visited places where horses and cattle were not provided with sufficient-shel-ter, and' had advised thoso responsible to provide shelter. The report was adopted.