CHARGE OF CRUELTY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1931, Page 8

CHARGE OF CRUELTY

FARMER BEFORE COURT. MASTER,TON, June 2(5. “If this case succeeus it, may have revolutionary effects m this district. i voiud mean that farmers will have to clear cattle off their pioperties, li cary.ng stock over when mere is a shortage ot food, is held to be an oiit nee under the Act,” declared Air H. a. Biss ( Wellington), counsel for David Bailie, a Manaia dairy farmer, against whom proceedings were taken in the Alasterton Magistrate’s Court to-day by the Society for the Prevention of cruelty to animals. Laiilie was charged with cruelty ill-treating 2f5 head of cattle by omitting to supply them with proper and sufficient food. He pleaded not guilty. Captain Henry, who conducted the prosecution for the society, stated tint ho visited defendant’s farm on .May 20. In one paddock he found 26 head ol cattle. Three of them were dead one was hogged, while the others were in an emaciated condition. There was no feed in the paddock. Thirty or

forty willow tres in it were eaten clear of bark up to as high as the animals could reach. “Tlierq was no feed there: the beasts wen* just crawling about,and t,ry : ng to -ml something to oat off the wilP'W.s.” he stated. The inspector was questioned by Air Biss regarding the drop in condition !•* cattle in the autumn. All* Biss stated that the loss of entile through seasonal failings was o'*er 000 Id months There was 3.000.000 head of stock in New ZoDnnd, so that the mortality was 1 in. 15

Constable I,e Comte, who accompanied Captain Henry on Ids visit to de fondant's farm, stated that there had been marks alongside one the dead cows, eii tout by its feet when it had tried to rise, hut had been too weak to do so. One animal had been so week that wh n lie had tried to photograph it, it could not walk, hut went down an its knees. All* Liss quoted figures from the Year Book regarding mortality among cattle and pointed out that witness Had only f und thee animals dead out of a total of 76 animals. Witness objected that the mortality was chiefly among cattle on stations. Witness described the Held in which, the stock had been found as nothing more than a holding paddock. Replying to ’further questions, he stated that he had seen cattle eat young shoots o) willow, but hud never seen them trim bare the trunks of 10 to io-year-oiV trees. “FAR ME I) LN USUAL MANNER.” Air Biss stated that the defence was tinit the cattle had been farmed in the usual manner employed in a hard season, . Tn.Ala.v ti e Wairarapa was pits-, ing through an autumn, which Constable le Cemte had admitted was the feeling the pinch in common with other Farmers. Evidence would lie given that the stock yvas in fair condition for store cattle at that time, and some or them had been sold for £2 10s, which was a good price for the time. The Magistrate, Mr J. Mill er, reset* ved his decision.