CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1754, 20 May 1913, Page 4

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

S'r, —In yours of May 10, it appears a deputation from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals waited on tho Premier to ask for a subsidy in aid of tho work in which tho society was engaged—which, of course, the Government could not bo expected to grant to ono particular society. But what is just as good was promised by Mr. Seddon some years ago, beforo ho resigned office, to tho Wanganui Socicty when they asked for assistance from the police, more so in outlying districts where the society could not well attend to for the want of funds to employ an inspector. Tho reply camo from Mr. Seddon, then Premier, to the effect that the police had been instructed all over New Zealand to see to cases of cruelty, and take action, and assist Societies, and I think that isas far as it went. For I havo never heard of them taking any action, unless it was forced npon them. I havo oven seen cattle, and sheep too, kept in saleyards, I might say, under the nose of tho police, in some country town, for a couple of days without food or water, and the same thing goes on yet. In tho backblocks especially is where yon see animals abused—not in the towns where, every eye is on those who are brutal

drivers of teams. Where there are bad roads, lialf-starved animals, and nobody to see or check them, the animal gets the brutal force of bad drivers and badtempered men and youths, who' would never be allowed to handle animals in countries where there is any care taken of them; but in this country it is bred in them, and if a case is brought up whoever is on the Bench as a ruio sympathises with them. No doubt if tho police' were"' instructed, as Mr. ,Seddon said, and exerted themselves, it would be the best way. The Government could subsidise those societies. It is a very strange thing that those who would derive most benefit from such, are those who won't become members or subscribe to them—aiamely, tho farmers— I am etc., A FARMER.