PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 7

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

CANTERBURY SOCIETY. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held last evening. Present: Mr J. O. Jameson (chairman), Misses F.Jones and M. Martin, the Rev. tl. Northcote, Messrs H. P. Bridge, 11. Wilson, A. W. MacGillivray, J. H. Parker, and G. T. Bullock (secretary). The report of the inspector (Mr J). J. White) stated that during the month ho had visited and inspected horse and poultry sales in the City and at ltangiora, stock sales in the City and country, and race meetings at Riccarton, New Brighton, and Motukarara. He had visited sixteen other addresses where cruelty to animals had been alleged, and had delivered cautions in each instance. One Court case was pending. De-horning of Cattle. The Wellington Live Stock Butchers' Association wrote that they were interested in the question of the dehorning of full-grown cattle. They understood that the Society had _ taken up the matter. Thev would like to know how far the Society was prepared to go, and would promise their support in; any movement. They could testify to the agony caused adult beasts by the practice, and the pconomic waste involved. The chairman said that the Society had bee;.i agitating for many years on the de-horning of cattle, but only recently had the question of cofnpulsory de-horning arisen. The Society had l.ieen in communication with the O+ago Society over the matter, and it was uncertain yet as to the steps that would be taken. It was decided to write the Butchers' Association enclosing a copy of the Ofcago Society's letter. Branding of Horses. ;Mr White, the inspector, reported that he had interviewed Mr W. H. Larkin, of the New Zealand Trotting Association, about the branding of horses. Mr Larkin had said that all horses leaving New Zealand were branded with a hot iron on the side of the neck under the mane. The operation took about three seconds and scorched the hide only. Discussion followed, in which it was pointed out that before a protest could be -entered some substitute should be suggested to take the place of branding. The chairman said in his opinion it would be difficult to siif<TP«fc one. Mr Bridge said he was sure the branding practice was a cruel one. It was not the function of tho Society to suggest how cruelty could be eliminated; but merely to point out where cruelty existed. The matter was held over jin the meantime. and the inspector was instructed to take any interested members to vie.w the branding operation, if they desired it. The Junior League. -Mrs A. L. Milliitgipn, organiser of the Society's Junior League, reported thql -£l9 18s had been collected in the month. Nineteen new members had been enrolled. New branches bad been started at the Papanui and Shirley Schools. The work of the League had been held up pending the decision of the senior committee aboul the League magazine. This question was a vital one in the work of the The need, for a larger magazine, with a

wider issue, was apparent. Could not tho Society move that the magazine be made a national one? It was decided to authorise any additional amount —over that already given—towards the publication of the next number of the Junior League magazine. Accounts for the month amounting to £52 4s lid were passed for 'payment. < ;