NO REFLECTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1737, 30 April 1913, Page 8

NO REFLECTION.

S.P.C.A. AND SOLICITORS. At last night's meeting of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, reference waS made to a report in inn Dominion regarding the society's dealings with solicitors in tho matter of j. !i 8 Co " rt cascs '. The TC P° rt 6tatcd that tho society considered tho question of what counsel should bo given the handling of a. certain important ease, and before a final selection was.made several names wero passed over, as members were of opinion that tho case should bo entrusted to tho best counsel available. It was explained last night thht tho arrangement had been that the solicitors wero to bo taken in alphabetical older in being called on for cases., The chairman (Mr. R. H. WebM said that ho was auite sure that 110 reflection was intoded to be east on any of the honorary solicitors by any remark made at tho last meeting, but the discussion seemed to have been misunderstood by tho reporter, and lather an unfornunnre mistake had been made. JIo hoped the papers would bo good enough to make it clear that the society had confidence in its solicitors. Other ©icmbcrs also expressed confidence in the society's honorary solicitors. Another matter referred to by one of the ladies present was tho .nuuier in which' a remark by the chairman had been reported in reference'to tho Magistrates, but sho supposed nothing could be done as tho remark had been made.

The chairman said that a remark of his in cold print looked rude, and lie really regretted that tho press had thought fit to put it down. Tho society looked to the press to help them, but tho report of that remark was not calculated to help him. (Ho referred to the Teinark as it nad been set down, reading from The Dominion report;— The chairman: Oh, Riddell won't give an order for the destruction of the horse—M'Arthur might.) No disrespect had been intended on his Ijart. Mr. Riddell was a very great iriend of his and had been since he (the chairman) was a boy. He knew him intimately, and his happening to make the remark in that waj* looked very offensive.

A lady member of tho committee expressed the opinion .that tho chairman nad been misreported. To the host of her recollection, he had said, "Mr. Eiddell" and "Dr. M'Arfliur."

The chairman sadded that it was unfortunate. Tho reporter, who put it in, evidently did not think about it, else ho would not have put' it in. After some further brief discussion, tho subject was dropped.