S.P.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 5

S.P.C.A.

■t j. s THE ANNUAL REPORT. 0 The annual report of the Society for d the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' - says:— ■■ i- The work of the last twelve months - has fully demonstrated the need for ■ the existence of the society and the e growing interest by the general public | in its operations. There has been no 1 decrease in the number of cases re--1 quiring'the inspector's attention. This " is in great part due to the fact that the publio appears more ready than nithcrto in reporting to the society cases that come under its notice. In all, 415 cases were dealt with by ■ the inspector, and of these, 25 cases - were'taken to Court. 1 At the instance of this society a cons forence of delegates from the various ; New Zealand societies was held in May ■ last, when the formation of a New Zea- > land Society was approved. In this ■ connection a committee was set. up to 1 draft a .constitution for submission to 1 the various kindred societies. [ Among tlio most vexed cases of cruelty are the defective system of carriage and transhipping of cattle, and the overloading of carts. The latter offence is still far too frequent, but is difficult to deal with, in the face of the .. existing municipal by-laws. In the matter of cattle, investigation of methods , in operation ( elsewhere has been made, . and the" information will be referred to the incoming committee. ;. The. shipping of noultry has also re- ' ceived: much'attention during the year. : and steps have been taken which should •minimise the cases of cruelty under this head! Some bettor provision for the carriage of dogs'on the railway is'necossary;' This niatter has received the attention'of the, society, but in this, as in various other directions, the society finds its. powers too restricted. 1 : Recently the attention of the society was directed to cruelty in th" nractice . of trapping opossums in the Wellington district, and steps have heen taken to ha<'» the matter remedied. -Thanks are again due to the society's honorary solicitors, to the police, to the • New Zealand Railway Department, Mid to the Karori Borough Council.' for fre'o passes granted to the society's inspector, also to Mr. : Grenfell, for the use of his stable in the cause of the society. Thanks, are' due to Miss Haydoii arid those who assisted her for the good . work done in'raising £41 18s. for the society by means of a bazaar and sale, of work. The society is also much indebted to Mrs. Atkins for her snecial donation, of £10. given on condition that a further £40 was raised by way of special donations; resulting in over £50 being thus added to .the funds of the society.' ''"""'•. ■'The committeo again Teoord Kiheiir, hearty appreciation of the efficient scr-, rice rendered by Mr. F. Seed as its inspector. The number of cases dealt with during tho year was as follows:—Workins lame h6rs.es, 52; working horses with sore backs and shoulders, 33; old and decrepit horses 41; undue severity in flogging, 7;' overloading, 15; under-feeding, etc., 42; overdriving, 4; uuder-feedin.e cattle, 41; illtreating sheep, 1; cruelty to bullocks, 15; over-crowding poultry, 35; dogs destroyed, 7; cats destroyed, 2; cruelly ill-treating ! do2s, 10; over-crowding cockatoos, 10; "horses without shelter, 3: diseased dogs, 13; bullocks severely injured in transit (killed), 2; cattle emaciated and diseased (killed), 21; cruel method trapping opossums. 1;, un-der-feeding-'calves, 10; cruelly ill-treat-ing.pigs in transit, 1: sundrv cases inquired into, 30;. warnings, 16; starving* Koat,.l; cruelty to ducks, 2; total, 415.