CATTLE IN SHIPS' SLINGS,

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1875, 8 October 1913, Page 10

CATTLE IN SHIPS' SLINGS,

COMPLAINT TO S.P.C.A. The method adopted in transhipping cattle from trucks to steamers at Wellington was the subject of a complaint which was dealt with at tho meeting of the Society _ for tho 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last evening. A letter was received drawing attention to .tho manner in which bullocks had recently been shipped on tho Mararoa. The writer stated that, on that occasion, a sling had been passed round the bodies, and the cattle wero then hauled up and kept suspended in' mid-air for an unnecessary length of time. . During their struggles the animals afteh struck. themselves injuriously. The cattlo were not bandied by experienced stockmen, but by wharf labourers. ' Inspector Seed said that tho complaint was quite justified. "If any of the society's members wish to see all exhibition, let them go down to the wharf," he added. This mothod of transhipping cattle was .practised twice a week in Wellington. In conclusion he suggested a prosecution as a test case. After other speakers had given their views it was decided, on the suggestion of the chairman (Mr. S. Jameson), to hold the matter over for the time being, in order to allow further inquiries to bo mado. " Reports of various eases of alleged cruelty were dealt with by tho inspector (Mr. Seed) in his fortnightly report. After a short discussion the report was adopted. The folio.ving donations were acknowledged : —Union Steam Ship Company, J. Staples and Company, Mrs. W. Nathan, and Mrs. Kersley, £1 Is. each ; Mrs. Baillie, 2s. Gd.; W. Johnson, 2a.; total, £4 Bs. Gd.