PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 11

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

MEETING OF OTAGO SOCIETY The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday, Mr A. D. Sutherland presiding. There were also present:— Messrs E. C. Reynolds, J. C. Willis, W. Cooper, S. P. Leith, J. Gordon, G. Mathieson. D. C. Cameron and J. G. Nelson. Mr A. L. Thomson notified the secretary that he would be leaving for England shortly and was forced to resign from the committee of the society. The resignation was accepted, and the filling of the vacancy on the committee will be considered later. A letter from a Nelson resident complained of the manner in which dogs were treated during distemper experiments at Massey College. The writer enclosed a press report of the experiments.—The report in the press was read, and members stated that there was no cruelty whatever displayed towards the dogs by injecting a virus. They were properly cared for.—The letter was received

Mr Willis reported that he had examined the newly drafted Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Protection of Birds, Animals (Anaesthetics), and Dogs Registration (Amendment) Acts, 1936, and thought that they were great advances on the existing legislation. The first Act was modelled on the English law and provided for some matters which were not taken into account in New Zealand—the coursing of hares in enclosures was prohibited, the debudding of the horns of calves by the application of caustic soda or caustic potash was made compulsory, and there was to be better provision for the transit of cattle to saleyards. The main feature of the Protection of Birds Act was the prohibition of the trap shooting of live birds. The third Act provided for the prohibition of the performance of necessary operations on animals unless under the influence of local or general anaesthetics. Mr Willis stated that the enforcement of this Act would be difficult in remote parts of the country.—Mr Willis was thanked for his report, and the secretary was instructed to reply to the New Zealand Federation of Societies endorsing its amendments to the Acts. .

The society's inspector (Mr J. J. Hinchcliff) reported that he had visited various country districts and attended a number of stock sales. Five complaints of cruelty to animals were investigated and any trouble corrected.

The secretary reported that arrangements were in hand for the conduct of Animal Welfare Week, to be held from September 27 to October 4.