PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

Evening Star, Issue 22445, 16 September 1936, Page 2

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

MEETING OF OTAGO SOCIETY Tho monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon. Air A. D. Sutherland was in the chair, and others present were Messrs E. C- Reynolds, J. C. Willis, W. Cooper, S. P. Leith, J. Gordon, G. Mathieson, D. C. Cameron, and J G. Nelson. In view of his trip to England Air A. L. Thompson wrote resigning his position on the executive. The vacancy created was left open. NEW LEGISLATION. The Secretary reported that Air J. C. Willis had made a brief survey of the 1936 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts, which would soon he coming before Parliament. In his survey Mr Willis stated that tho proposed Acts were a very great advance on the law as at present constituted. Presumably they bad been modelled on the English Acts, and provided for a number of matters which were not taken into account in the present law, such as the prohibited coursing of hares in an enclosure, the compulsory debudding of horns of calves, more comprehensive provision for the transport of cattle to saleyards. and the giving of any poisonous drug or substance to any animal. He thought that the proposed enactments were wholly to the good, and would be very valuable. The proposed : Protection of Birds Act was also a very great advance on the existing law. It provided against the illegal taking of birds, including the use of tethered live birds, birds that had been maimed, or the use of birdlime. Provision was also made against the illegal confinement of birds, and for their proper treatment in transit, or on exhibition, while trapshooting of live birds was absolutely prohibited. The proposed Animals (Anaesthetic) Act prohibited the performance of necessary operations on animals unless under'the influence of some general or local anaesthetic, which was quite new to the law in New Zealand. It would appear that whilst the provisions of this proposed Act, presumably founded on the English law. were most humane, it might bo considered that the carrying out of it would seriously hamper and embarrass farmers in the performance of farming operations, especially when the remoteness and extent of some of the New Zealand holdings were taken into account.

It was observed by some members of the executive that there would probably be a considerable amount of opposition to the new Acts. Mr Willis was thanked for his report, which was received. The secretary was instructed to reply to the Federation of New Zealand Societies, endorsing the amendments proposed to the Act, GENERAL. A Nelson correspondent forwarded a newspaper- cutting on vaccine tests carried out at Massey College on dogs infected with distemper. After discussion the Chairman said ho was satisfied that no unnecessary cruelty was used in these tests, ANIMAL WEEK. The Kindness to Animals Week will be begun this year on September 27. The usual campaign will be conducted through the schools, churches, radio, and the Press. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. In his monthly report the inspector (Mr J. J. Hinchcliff) stated that he had noticed two dogs tied to a wire fence in North Otago, but, on inquiring, had been assured that the dogs had only been there for one night. A cow evidently in pain, and with one of its hips out of joint, had been inspected, and had to be destroyed. A complaint that dogs in the city were being ill-treated was without foundation, while a stray dog which was old had been destroyed. A case of cruelty to cattle had been found, and a prosecution was pending. The case W’oukl probably come before the magistrate at Milton on September -25.