The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1435, 21 September 1878, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1878.

The Christchurch City Council have issued the new arrangements for the cab stands at various parts of the city. There are one or two points in connection with this, which, while agreeing in the main with the arrangements, seem to us to require alteration. Under the new arrangement, four cabs only are allotted to each of the stands opposite the City Hotel and Cobb and Co.’s office. Now, after making careful enquiry into the matter, it appears that there is ample room on each of these stands for two more cabs without infringing in any way on the public thoroughfare. As these stands are convenient for the public, the increase in the number of cabs now proposed will bo of benefit. The number wo have suggested, viz,, two additional on each stand, will not eiwd the pitching placed there for the accommodation of vehicles, and will enable the wants of the travelling public to be served. As the cabmen put it, if these stands are reserved for four cabs, there will always be a rush to got on to them, because the chances of a faro are very much greater there than on the more remote ones. One other point, wo wish to refer to is the station of two cabs near Matheson’s Agency. As now placed, the two cabs take up the same amount of room that three would do. Hence no valid reason exists why three should not bo allowed to stand there. This would give an addition of five cabs to the number proposed on what may bo called the central stands. The arguments of the cabmen seem to have some show of reason in them, and it might be as well for the Council to reconsider the allotment of cabs in the respects we have pointed out. So far as can bo learnt, the proposed alteration will conduce to the convenience of the public, and therefore, if on consideration the Council doom it to bo so, wo trust to see them adopt the suggestions now made.

A case of cruelty heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court during the past week seems to suggest the necessity for some steps being taken to organise a society for the prevention of such practices. lu the neighbouring colony of Victoria a Society for tbo Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lias long boon in existence, and lias done much good. The necessity of something being done in this direction in Now Zealand lias been recognised by the Legislature, and a Bill for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has passed botli Houses, though whether in the shape it was introduced Hansard does not inform us. But still, supposing the Bill to have become law in its present shape, there exists the difficulty of detection of acts of cruelty. The law provides the means of punishment when the offenders are discovered, but the machinery for discovery is not at hand, unless some such society as wo have spoken of steps in, and, by means of its officers, brings those guilty of acts of cruelty before tho magistrates. It may

bo said that any person who witnesses an act of cruelty will give information, and the Act provides that a constable may, without warrant, arrest an offender upon such information, but this is not always done. The trouble of travelling a long distance, perhaps, to the Court, the fooling of not wishing to get any one into difficulty, all militate against informations being laid in cases of ill-treatment of animals. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that there should bo an intermediate authority, whose duty it shall bo to furnish proofs of acts of cruelty, between the law and the offender. Such an authority would be supplied by the establishment of a Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, such as exists elsewhere. Unless this be done, the Act, admirable as its provisions are, will to a very great extent bo a dead letter. It may bo said that such an Act and such a Society are surely not necessary hero. Let any one take a walk through our streets, and see the numerous acts of wanton cruelty to animals committed daily, and such an idea will speedily pass away. It would be a very great pity if so admirable an Act as the one in question were to remain inoperative, the more so as its provisions are necessarily stringent, and would, if brought into operation, have a most salutary effect. Clause 12, for instance, says:—

In every case of a conviction under this Act, if such conviction shall take place before two Justices of the Peace or a Resident Magistrate, it shall bo lawful for such Justices or such Resident Magistrate, if they or he shall think fit, instead of imposing a pecuniary penalty, forthwith to sentence the offender to be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for any time not exceeding six calendar months. The enforcement of such a clause in an aggravated case such as the one brought before the Court last week, would have the effect of checking to a largo extent tiro wanton and deliberate cruelties now practised towards animals.

The success attendant upon the operations of tlxo Railway Employes’ Benefit Society, as presented by the balancesheet exhibited at the last mooting, is exceedingly satisfactory. The establishment of societies such as this amongst working men have a tendency to inculcate habits of thrift, and therefore they cannot but be regarded in the light of benefits the community. By the exercise of a little self-denial, the workman provides for himself and family the means of subsistence in case of illness or accident, and a sum to defray funeral expenses in case of death. Now, supposing that these thousand members who comprise the Society were not to do this, that instead of paying the contribution entitling them to these benefits, they were to spend it in some other way not directly benofittiug them, the result would bo that, in case of sickness or death, the public would be called upon to contribute through its charitable aid, and in large departments, such as the railway this would be a most serious item in the public expenditure. Therefore the success of the institution wo have referred to is matter for congratulation, not alone by its members, but also by the general public. We trust that the success which has attended its efforts up to the present will increase, and -that each succeeding balance-sheet ■will show a growing fund to its credit.