CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 25 June 1907, Page 3

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Warning to Stock Drovers. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr Thompson, S.M., George Spence, drover and cattle dealer, of Fielding, was charged by the police under section 7 of the Police Offences Act that / he did cruelly treat 24 head of cattle by omitting to supply them with proper and sufficient food and water. Mr Cooper appeared for defendant and Constable Woods prosecuted on behalf of the police. Constable Woods deposed that defendant had purchased 24 head of cattle at Himatangi sale on the 6th May, and had allowed them to remain in the yards without sufficient food and water for four days. D. Dick deposed that the cattle had been kept in the yards during the period above mentioned. They were very thin, and when liberated rushed for the water. The last two days of their confinement they were bellowing continuously. Never saw any food given them. There was very little grass in the paddock, an area of about two acres. It was a “ holding ” pad- ’ dock used by drovers, and was occupied about twice a week. By Mr Cooper: A big mob of cattle had been turned into the paddock on Thursday night, and Spence’s cattle were put into the yards. Spence’s cattle were not in the yard all the time. By the S.M. : The bellowing occurred before the big mob of cattle were turned in. There was no water in the paddock except in muddy holes. It was rain water. Constable Dickson deposed as to visiting the stock yards- Saw the cattle in the holding yards. The cattle were bellowing, and looked “ tucked up ” as if they had been without food or water. There was muddy water in the paddock, but not fit for animals to drink. There was little or no grass, Mr Cooper submitted that his client bought the cattle at the sale on the date mentioned and arranged that they were to be left there from Monday night till Friday. His client was satisfied that there was sufficient water and feed in the holding paddock. He was not the class of man to illtreat cattle. The cattle were in poor condition when purchased. Walter Wakefield Ward, auctioneer for the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., said defendant obtained permission to allow the cattle to remain in the holding paddock for a few days. There was a water-hole in the paddock. There was sufficient feed in the paddock to keep the cattle from starving. Had no reason to believe that a mob of cattle would be turned in the paddock. Defendant was a practical farmer. The yards belonged to the Company, and were used by the drovers. The cattle were very poor on the day of sale. Did not know definitely how long the cattle would be there.

George Spence, farmer, of Taonui, said he arranged for the cattl/ to be left in the paddock till Friday. The feed looked fresh. Heard on the Thursday that the cattle were in a bad way. Made arrangements to get the cattle, removed on Saturday. Could not procure - the services of a drover before that. It was not to his interest to starve the cattle. There was a good water hole in the paddock, and the water was nice and clean on sale day. He had since sold them at a fair profit. The Magistrate said defendant must be convicted. He did not think it was a proper place in which to keep cattle four or five days. Defendant was told on Thursday that the cattle were in a bad way, and it was his duty to wire somebody to supply them with food and water. He would be fined £2 and 24s costs.