BOBBY CALF TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 5

BOBBY CALF TRADE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Referring to the letter appearing in your issue of April 27 and signed by the chairmen of two j calt pools i.n the district the S.P.C.A. ■answers :—Ear from suddenly awakening the society to the ill-treatment or calves, our branches have, tor years, been agitating throughout the country to get better conditions for them. Consiuerable improvement has been shown —the calves are better handled by lorry-drivers; they no longer travel in uncovered railway trucks in the bitter weather; they have to bo properly fed and three days old before they are collected. But this transporta lion for long distances has not improved and until the distances are shortened we cannot be satisfied. We know the technique of those who hold us up to ridicule; we have struck a weak spot and instead of tackling the problem in a humane way Messrs Benge and Hodgson try to cover it up. They cannot disprove that the handling of the bobby calf trade was bungled and a disgrace to this so-called civilised country. It is utter nonsense to .tell us that calves arc always slaughtered the day following collection. Our inspector is in a position to know; he visits railway yards, freezing works and the abattoir, and makes it his business to look at the calves in lorries. Have Messrs Benge and Hodgson ever seen calves in the pitiful state that ho has, i.e., with eyes gouged out, ears torn, and in a starving condition P The S.P.C.A, so far has never appealed to the Mayor and councillors or the Chamber of Commerce, nor even the Fire Brigade, blit we thank them for the suggestion 1 The S.P.C.A. has no desire whatever to interfere with the farmers managing their own business, nor have we given them advice AVe ask them to consider better ways of treating defenceless creatures. Perhaps Messrs Benge and Hodgson are not aware that a Society tor the Protection of Women and Children has been in existence in New Zealand for many years and if they know ot any child requiring care they have onlv to apply to thus society or the welfare officer. Meanwhile, the S.P.C.A. will not dissolve on their advice. These gentlemen are trying to draw a red herring across the track, but we are not going to be put off the scent. —1 am, etc., E. M. WRIGHT, Hon. Secretary, Eeilding S.P.C.A. May 2, 1940.