President’s Advice To S.P.C.A.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 1

President’s Advice To S.P.C.A.

“It’s time you people got your feet on the ground, with a down-to-earth policy,” Mr C. C. Lennon, of Timaru, president of the New Zealand Federation of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told members of the Canterbury society and its council last evening.

Christchurch had been “out on its own” in saving unwanted cats and dogs, said Mr Lennon, who elaborated on “the futility of the whole thing.” The Canterbury S.P.C.A. had been spending £l5O in feeding stray animals that nobody wanted, he said. The public largely gave the money —but they did not really give i for that purpose. They gave it to prevent cruelty to animals.

“Saving unwanted animals is not our work,” said Mr Lennon. “Our work is to prevent cruelty to animals, not to feed the strays of the town.”

“Some other society can start up to do this —and good luck to them, too—but it’s not our work,” said Mr Lennon. There was too much of the personality touch entering

into the Christchurch S.P.C.A.’s affairs said Mr Lennon. “It has prevented the work of your society being carried out in terms of a good down-to-earth policy.” Mr Lennon's remarks did not go unchallenged. He suffered interjections, and when he said he held sincere views, and was not in S.P.C.A. work “for fun,” one man called out in a loud whisper: “Rats!” At another stage, Mr Lennon suggested that he be heard, and members could comment afterwards.

“You are very divided in your opinions—and you’ll have to iron these out,” Mr Lennon told members.

If the society did not “come down to earth,” the Christchurch City Council was likely to appoint its own inspectors under the Animals Protection Act, and do the work the S.P.C.A. should be doing—“and your society will become nothing.” Mr Lennon said.

“It’s time you people got your feet on the ground.” said Mr Lennon. “As long as you have these pipe dreams about saving all these unwanted animals—and you’ve tried it for years—things won’t work out.” S.P.C.A. work in Christchurch could not be handled by only one inspector, if it was to be done efficiently, said Mr Lennon. Inspectors must not be excitable men. and should have a practical background with animals. They should be supplied with the necessary humane equipment for putting animals to sleep. Inspectors, he said, must be given sufficient power to use their discretion.

A third necessary matter was the education of the public.