RODEO INFLUENCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 4

RODEO INFLUENCE

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS SUPERVISION FOR BOYS Charges of cruelty to yearling calves and also to a horse were preferred against two youths who appeared before Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M.. in the Children’s Court this morning, there being two charges against the boys. The first charge was one of causing wilful damage to six calves, and the second one of cruelty to a horse. Detective-Sergeant R. H. Watersom said that several yearling calves were kept in a paddock in a suburb of Gisborne. The boys concerned went to the paddock and rounded up six of the calves and cut the tips off the ears of the calves. The owner of the calves reported, to the police that he thought that someone was going to steal the calves, but these .fears had proved groundless.

Both boys, when interviewed, said that they had no intention of stealing the calves, but had merely earmarked them.

Six da; s later the boys had gone to another paddock and tied the covers on a horse in such a manner as to flank-rope it. The horse was valued at £35 and such action could cause it considerable damage. Both boys had been previously warned by the police for creating mischief. Appearing for one of the boys, Mr. K. A. Woodward said that the boy had been in the custom of going in the company of tire other boy against the wishes of his father. Apparently the boy had got his ideas from pictures and from rodeos, as he came from a family well known as horsemen.

The magistrate commented that it was obvious that there was some necessity for the boys to be placed! under some control, and made an. order that they be placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for 12 months.