Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1901. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 3 December 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1901. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Cruelty to animals is a bad trait in any man, and it is pleasing to see that our Inspector of Police is devoting attention to the matter. At yesterday’s Police Court a case was before the Court. After hearing, the charge was dismissed, so that in dealing with the question we make no reference to this particular instance; it may, or may not, have been a case of necessity, or of cruelty. But in this district many actual cases of cruelty have been brought under our notice. How often do we see a girth or back galled or shoulder - sore, horse being forced along, the driver either callous or ignorant of the pain to the unfortunate dumb beast. Then, in regard to poultry, nothing is more common than to see a person dangling them through town with legs tied land head hanging down; indeed, many persons think this is “ quite the correct thing ” on much the same plea as to skinning eels alive—“ they gets accustomed to it, and its a general rule.” In other places such customs are not allowed, and those resorting to such procedure are punished. In many cases it is not a desire to be cruel; it is mere thoughtlessness ; and attention only requires to be ca'led to the matter to prevent a repetition. Nature is sufficiently cruel without man adding to her hardships, and we trust the hint given by Inspector Macdonald will be taken, and that in future we shall see more attention paid to the matter. We think our Inspector is deserving of the highest praise for his efforts to stop thoughtlessness and wanton cruelty.