ALLEGED CRUELTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 199, 8 September 1937, Page 4

ALLEGED CRUELTY

Clive Farmer on Charge of Starving Horses

"NOT GUILTr PLEA The starving of farm animals was alleged in two prosecutions broUglit against farmers by the Society for Ifiie Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in tlie Hastings Magistrate 's Court tliis oiorning. The informations in each Case were given by Mr. W. A. Stevens, inspector fOr the S.P.O.A., and the society Was represented by Mr. W. Selwyn Averill. For cruelty to a Shorthorn cow, which liad to be destroyed, Perey Jonos was fiiied £5 with costs of £1 11/- by Mr. J. Milier, S.M. It was stated for t-lie defence that Jones had understood that the cow liad been destroyed when tllis had not aetually been done. Heiiry Lister, of Clive, who was represented by Mr. C. W. Nasll; pleaded not guilty to a charge Of failing to sujjply seven horses With sufficient food. Tllis case Was still proCeeding w'hen the Herald-Tribtine went to^ press this afternoon. Inspector Stevens detailed aU inspection of Stock in defendant's paddocks at Clive. There were seveii horses and a number of head of eattie in a paddock without food. On6 horse was "down" and in poor condition. It could not have got up, due to weakness and starvatioli. Near this horse there was a dead hoggett, and 'hoggets' wool about the paddoelc siiggested that others had died there. The other six liorses wero also in poor condition and had l>3ii absolutely starved. Two of tho cattle were poor and another was in very poor condition. The animals woUld be suffering frigfiitfully, he said. There Was no feed whatever in the paddock, which Was covei'ed with animal manure, said tlie inspector. When he intei'Viewed dcfendant about the horse that was ' ' doivn ' ' lie replied, "I've beeii wondel'ing what to do witlli it." William James Walker, a farmer, of Clive, and a neighbour of the former witnesS, gave evidence of a visit to the defendant's paddocks With the inspector. Mason Waterworth, stock agent, of Hastings, said he examined five horses on defendant's property two days after the sumnions was served on the del'endant. They were tlien in strong winter condition. Tliey could not have piclted up sucli condition had tlifiy been in a state of starvation 15 days previously. He had not reason to believe, however, that tlie horses he saw wero ihe siune horses as those the inspector 'uad seen. (Proceeding),