RAILAGE OF PIGS.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 January 1918, Page 4

RAILAGE OF PIGS.

To the Editor.

Sir, —I am writing this letter to ask if something can be done to stop or

minimise the present cruel practice of the railing and transportation of pigs, especially fat pigs. The railroad regulations allow consigners to load any number of pigs at any one loading station and then consign the partly loaded truck on to another to have more put in and so on, until the truck, usually a double-decker, is full, with the result that the pigs are often left for days at the wayside flag station in the present hot weather before they are finally conveyed to the slaughterhouse. Some time ago I counted 34 & fat pigs huddled together, exposed to the glaring sun, without any cover,and four of them dead. I have often seen them put out their tongues to catch a few drops of water from driplets off the roof of the truck. And, to make the cruelty more severe, the pig buyers give instructions that no food or drink shall be given to the pigs on the morning of the day they are loaded. I am aware that a number of farmers do notyboth- , er about a pig, but get it pushed into a railway truck and away out of sight. But I believe lots of farmers have feelings for the pigs that often have been bred and reared on the farm, and would not knowingly perpetrate any cruelty on them It is in many cases the pigs that pay the rent of the farm. I think the practice (to save a little extra cost in railage) of ' shunting and battering them about from station to station, should be stopped. Also a tarpaulin cover over them, and at least sufficient drink given them on the morning of loading.—l am, etc., C. N. CLAUSEN. Palmerston N.