CRUELTY TO STOCK.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1924, Page 4

CRUELTY TO STOCK.

RAi I.U'A V 0 i’.I'ART.M 1C NT CIMTICISKD. ashbcrtox, March 21. Two yotmj? men, inexperienced in truckin'' .sLock. were prosecuted lor cruelty through overcrowding ii railway truck with three big cows, two heifers and eighteen calves consigned from Hinds to Addington. The evidence indicated that, an error had been made in supplying only one truck when two were ordered. On arrived at Ashburton it was found that several cattle were down. The truck, accordingly was detached and the consignees' local agents, Matson and Co. were notified. Matters remained thus all night. A constable testified that he received a. complaint next morning and lounJ six or seven calves half dead. Who: the truck was unloaded three calves were found trampled to death. “MADK A BI.I'NDKR.” The magistrate acquitted both young men without blame, saying that notifying agents did not- relieve railway ofl’ii ials from the responsibility of leaving the rattle suffering till night. “It seems to me that the Rail 1 ' Department has not- come out of this as clean as it might have done,” he stated. “The Railway Department and the consignees’ agents (Matson and Co.) have blundered. The calves should not have remained in the truck nil night. In the ordinary course of events it would have been unloaded in Christchurch that night. It might be that the Railway Department at Ashburton has not time to attend to these niattei s. but the remedy is in get more hands.”