S.P.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 25, 24 October 1917, Page 7

S.P.C.A.

— : r+-. ANNUAL MEETING. Tha annual meeting of tha members of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in the. secretary's office yesterday afternoon. Mr. M. J. Kiigour, vice-president, presided, and there was a fair number of members present. The chairman, in moving the adoption of tho report (already published) said there was nothing in tho balance-sheet which called for special mention. The ■society was not a money-making institution, still the work of _ the society could not be carried on without financial help. To obtain that assistance tho society relied upon tho sympathy and generosity of residents of Wellington and district. It was the earnest endeavour of tho committee to soo that tho purposes for which tho society existed were carricd out in a reasonable and commonsense manner. During the. past year there had been 10 less eases of lameness in horses reported by tho inspector than last year. This was convincing levidence of the greater care owners and driver,? were taking of tho animals under their care, and it may be justly stated that the teaching and influence of the society have to somo extent been instrumental in bringing about this improvement. Ihe inspector had reported that during the past year, out of .269 cases dealt, with only 17 were brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate. In most of the latter cases repeated warnings were given before iinal action was taken. ■ , There was a matter which, although it did not frequently come ivithin the scope of ftto society's activities, appealed to all persons interested in dumb animals —that was the methods commonly used in the destruction of various siiecies of wild animals stud birds, the feathers ana skins of which were used for commerce purposes. Many of the methods were extremely cruel, and consisted principally of traps, 6ome of which inflict unnecessary suffering. The subject was a big one, as trapping was a world-wide custom, but the brutality might bo very much lessened if all similar societies throughout the world could act in unison and bring the matter -unde? the notice of their respective Governments, for legislation would no doubt be necessary to suppress tho practice. A movement could be launched in Now Zealand by persons refusing to purchase articles ol dress and adornment procured by tho means referred to. , , The report > and balance-sheet were adopted. , , . 'L'fie election of ofheers resulted as lol-lows-.-Patron: His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General; president, Mr. I'. Meadowcroft; vice-presidents. His Worship the. Mayor, Hon. J. G. W. 'Aitten, Messrs. J. ilott, M. J. Kiigour, W. Watson, and R H. Webb; committee, Mesdames u Christie, A. E. lvemot, C. H. Seville, Wakelin, Miss Richards, Rev. J. a. Glasson, anil Mr. Crmckshank; nonorary solicitors, 'Messrs. Barton and Mazenga'rb, Luke and Kennedy, Webb and \ an Staveren, Kirk and Rapley (Gtaki), A. R. Atkinson, D. R. Hoggard,- 1. \oung, H. 11. Cornish; honorary auditor, lur. C. D. Morpeth. , . , , The subscriptions for the fortnight ended October 23, totalled M 14s. fid.