PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 911, 2 September 1910, Page 5

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY.

■■-'■ EFFECTIVE ; LEGISLATION : SOUGHT. ' '■'";. -A- deputation 'representing the Conference of. Societies tor: the :Prevention' of .Cruelty: to Animals waited, upon the MinV ■'.ister for. Justice. (the- Hen;. JJr. I'lndlay) .■'. yesterday morninij.': :. . ' '■.' . ~ The -chairman (Mr/ J". H. Hankins) pointed,out , that at the-present lima the societies had" no legislation outside of isolated clauses in .the Police Offences Act upon which to ■ rely. '■- Some two years ; ego a private: Bill had. : been introduced' .: in>the. 'House'by' Mr. Laurenpon, M.l'., but ,it .had:'not got past its first, reading.. .coni'erenco asked that tht Govern* :■ ment'should .introduce a short, measure. .. on somewhat:,- similar•■.liy.es. .to'-the . one' . brought forward by Mr. 'Laiirenson. The • conference was of opinion that the,method ."Of. killing .cattle in the abattoirs "by pithing, was, cruel; in the 'extreme, and: was ■ :'satisfaptory-: asr stunuing,', \Vhich -vras a more huniano me'tlibd.' They asked ..'.'that; .the .Government should make in- , : quiry into■ the.'matter. Mr. Hankins .also -:•-- urged*..that'.tfnes'' resulting ; ,ffurn' court '. case's;.'in..which.'.the. societies 'prosecuted, .should be .handed over to the socioty, .the! idea ; ;pf the cdnfereijce being that the money so gained would.be used to procure -literature dealing with/cruelty to. animals, for distribution •: amonsst :!.:'yonng- , 'pe'oplq. ! ' , '-,'.-! , r.■•;■■■■:.'!'•:. ,•;. ■' ■. = -.■ . • ■.., : ■■...'" ~'■''■'• Mr., J. .Spillari; suggested that if the . was* unable -to : get . a 'Bill : through' 'thia.session,' , .a draft Bill mignt ..be;.prepared and'■:circulated .amongst so- ' tdeties.'■ for consideration.. ;; -- ; ■. . '•';' i "., ■': .Dr;j'.Kndlay' said, he fully'.recognised .'■ the excellence of :the,humanitarian work done;-by: the';6ocieties, "".whicli: work . hey .- considered ■ deserved > every: encouragement on tho .part of v the; Government.;'. He .went , refer , : to : the- necessity -for .'avoiding: oppressive' proposals, , or;'any proposals,of- a grandmotherly nature. On ; ' these , , conditions ho would; see what he; 1 could ; do. Any: such 'measureTmust ■• aim at bnriging.real offenders - ; to justice. ; With the-assistance-, of Mr. Laur'enson : no doubt good would res'ult from the .■ iepresentations-made. ■ -- ; ■-. ' V