S.P.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 7

S.P.C.A.

annual meeting "" .< Mr. J l . Meadowcroft presided at the ..twenty-fourth annual meeting of tho --it .Society lor tie Prevention jsof Cruelty to Animals, hold yost&rday I 'afternoon. There was a attend-- •— Sance of members, including several - -ladies. _ In moving tho adoption of th'e annual f report, the chairman jaid that much •j'; 'bad been done, nnd was Jjeing done, Ijp throughout tho world in tho direction of caring -for dumb animals, and preventing cruelty to them. Less than a century ago, whoa a man was charged with horrible _ cruelty io a cow, -tho :«aso Tvas dismissed because tho cow was considered to bo only a farm implement, 'and therefore was tho man's own property. Mr. Meadowcroft proceeded, to .sketch the oarcer of the iTrovontion of 'Cruelty to Animals Society from 1822 to -the present day. In 1840 tho late Queen victoria gave encouragement to .the work of this society at Home. As a girl of 16 she showed her sympathy .with its cause, and on becoming patroness Her Majesty stated that no civilisation -was complete which did not ■ include within its sphere of charity and mercy tho dumb and defenceless of God's creation. Sinoo that timo Her -Majesty's piraotical interest in tlio work find enjoyed the support of her; successors, including His Majesty 'George V, who is now patron. Cou■tinumg, the president said that the proscoution ot offenders had been and Li only ono side of the'society's work, and by no means the most important one,. The S.P.C.A. did-not aim at put ting people in prison, but rather the .'reverse, by trying by education to instil Into , people a moral responsibility towards the animals in their chargo, and for this purpose it published and circulated information, on the. proper treatment of. animals. This meant that . while on the one hand it holds the rod of correction over those who deserve it, it endeavours on the other to lead people by persuasion to a better understanding of those animals, their natures, and their needs. "Education against cruelty is tilo most powerful 'weapon, for education means a greater 'kuowledge," . said Mr. Meadowcroft, "while cruelty means a laok of it,, both the sufferings and cruelties involved 'and of tho needs for the proper, treatment which we all—human and animals | alike —inherit by light. "The Wellington Society,, belonging ,to a city where no agricultural shows 1 are held, cannot do what it would like jn the matter cf haVing a stall lit any agricultural show, where' many who earn their livelihood by dealing in •animals attend, and where much educative information might be given. At iall dog and poultry shows, however, j our inspector attends, and is ready not only to nolo cases of Cruelty to birds and dogs, but is .willing to givo any inforniation io owners on the care of their animals." Continuing, Mr. Meadowcroft said "that each year brought some fresh in the Wellington Society, It could claim that it has worked un® romittingly in fighting for the weak, in voicing truth, for those, ,who cannot , v speak, and in leading many a thoughtless mind to think of being kind'. The chairman appealed for funds, saying that the society was only supported by ■ voluntary subscriptions. It received no Government grant, and took no . shaie in tho penalties inflicted as a . result <of its prosecutions, therefore it was solely dopendent on the generosity . of tho pirblic. Tho motion was seconded by Mrs. Kernot, and carried unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Lord Liverpool; president, Mr. F. Meadowcroft; vice-presi-dents, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke).the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, .Messrs. J. Ilott, W. Watson, V. R. Meredith", and R. H. Webb; committee, Mesdames C. Christie, A: E. Kernot,•C. H. Beville, Wakelin, Miss Richardson, Rev. J.'lt. Glasson, Messrs. 'M. Kilgour and T. Forsyth; hon. solicitors, Messrs. A. I?..- Atkinson, Barton, and MazengaTb, It. Hoggard, Luke and Kennedy, R. H: Webb, T. Young, and . Kirk and Itaploy (Otaki); hon. auditor, Mr. 0., D. Morpothi . Subsequently a oomihitteo meeting' ,was held, at which it wao announced that the following subscriptions for the week ending October 31 lud been received Jli's. (Dr.) Adams, £5; Mr. W. 'Watson, iHarcourt and Co., and "Friend," £1 Is. each ; Mrs. W. Cal'leridar, £1; Mesdames \V. G. Johnston, 'A. H. Miles, and Mr. F. Penty, 10s. ; each; Mr. A. E. Mills, 7s. 6d.; Mesdames C. IzaTd, A'. Myere, Dr. C. F. Pattie, Messrs.; D. . O'Connor, W.. H. Bennett, Ellis and Manton, E. C. Brown, "Anon.," ss. each; Mrs. West Knowles, Mr. J. E. Lord, 2s. 6d. each; Miss Heath, 25.; "Friend," Is. Total, '£13 Bs. 6d. .