HORSE USAGE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1285, 14 November 1911, Page 6

HORSE USAGE

SOME OF THE FLAGRANT CASES. l'II!~l/y DKAI.T WITH. In couffiuonco <if ixmi plain Is received from residents iu the district regarding cruelly, by way of slarviitinn, in the Hull V'liiley, Mr. Seed (ius|K'(itor for tho S"eiely for t.lie Prevention of (Jruell.y to Animals) has ken very aclive. As a result, several eii-.es were brought before Dr. M'Arlliur, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court at I'ppi'i- ll.ntt yesterday morning. Tho facts called I'mtli si>iih> very strong comment from the Magistrate.

K. fi. lirown was charged Mint on October :t. at Whiteiuan's Valley, lie failed to provido siillicient feed for two horses. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Webb, who appeared for the socie.ty, said that; although tho defendant had admitted the charge, he felt compelled to put the facts fully before tho Magistrate. It was one of tho most serious cases of cruelty that the society had ever dealt with. Brown had taken many hordes to grazo from Wellington, aud no fowcr than nine horses had died under his care. Defendant ga.vo various reasons by way of excuse. Tho defendant stated that tho reason that' tho horses were found in the condition they were was because they had wandered out of tho paddock on to tho road, where there was no feed. Ho further pointed out that ho was charged in respect of only two horses. In view of tho circumstance*, ho asked the Court for lenient treatment. Dr. Jl'Arthiir: Well, you won't get much of that from mo for starving horses. I suppose you have taken a big patch of land in tho valley and cxpcct to make a great deal of money out of it'. You don't care what bccomcsof tho animsls. Defendant: I had tried often to get rid of the animals, but tlio owner refused to tako them. Dr. M'Arthur: Well, why did not you drive them back? That was your remedy. It is one of the cruellest things in creation" to have animals starving under your care. Ilor.sos liavo no means of letting their wants bo known; it is a pity they have not, so that they could mako themselves a nuisance if thev were not fed. I repeat that, to leave "horses unprovided for, is one of tho cruellest tilings 1 can imagine. 1 dou't know what your position with tho owner was, and I don't care. I am only sorry that I can't inflict a term of imprisonment. It is just what your class deserve. Any war, I am determined to put a stop to this, and I wilt make the penalty a substantial one. Defendant was fined .£5, with costs and solicitor's fees amounting to J;1 ]Ss. Default was fixed at seven days' imprisonment. An application for time to pay was refused. John Robinson was also charged on the information of tho society with failing to provido feed and shelter for a horse at Trentham. He pleaded not guilty. Mr. Webb said this was another case where a horse had been sent out from town for grazing purposes. Tho inspector had received several complaints, and when ho examined the horse, ho found it in a very weak condition, with no available food. I'rcderick Seed (Inspector to the Society) corroborated this, and added that when he first saw the horse it was "practically skin and bono." Inquiries elicited the tact that for a long timo the horse was too weak even to rise. Constable Mahoney also gave evidenco. Eobiitson said that when he took tho horse, it was agreed that he should accept no responsibility. Dr. .M'Arthur:' We will soon fix the responsibility for you. The horse was under your care, and you should bave seen that it was properly looked after. It is laniontablo that men liko you should lie running away with tho reputation of the district. Your caso is certainly not so bad as the previous one. I want, however, to make this sort of thing unprofitable. Yon will be fined £2, with cos-ts i! 2 Is. Default is iixed at seven days. In connection with the -last-mentioned cape, Wilfred Bates, of Brooklyn, ..the owner of tho horse, was proceeded against on a similar charge to that of Kobinson. The .evidenco.was, tho same..,;,, Mr. Webb said that the object in bringing the case forward was to impress upon owners that (hoy were responsible for the welfare of their animals, even though they did not hnvc direct caro. Defendant was fined £1, with costs amounting to lis. Gd., or in default three days' imprisonment. At tho conclusion of the cases, Dr. M'Arthur said he would continuo to bo very severe in all charges of this linhirß which came before him.