Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1909. THE CLAIMS OF ANIMALS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4462, 14 September 1909, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1909. THE CLAIMS OF ANIMALS.

I hit above all—to thine own eel/ be true, ind 1 1 muet follow ae the night the day Thou const not then be false to any man Shakespeare .

The particulars of the trampling to death of five bullocks, as related at the foot of this article, will cause a shudder to every kindly disposed person. New Zealanders are not a pitiless people. That is fortunate, because pitilesanessis characteristic of cannibals, tigers, and demons. It has been said that: “ For the pitiless, and for the pitiless alone, there is no pity.” But although our people are humane, they may, by ignoring the claims of the brute creation, and by accustoming themselves to sights of, and stories of, the cruel sufferings of animals, be* come pitiless. It would be a neglect of duty and a sign of decadence if we failed to take special notice of the case now under consideration, and to say a few words in defence of brute beasts. Kindness to animals was inculcated by the Sacred Scriptures thousands of years ago. The Mosaic law enjoined : “ Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen ?” And it was recognised' that: “ A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.”

All humane peoples throughout the world endorse those sentiments which have, all down the centuries excited kindly consideration for dumb animals. These humane feelings in the heart of man indicate a certain relationship between him and the merciful Creator, who tern* pers the wind to the shorn lamb and does not allow even a sparrow to fall to the ground without ois will. Every right minded man appreciates the Awbs regard for his horse, and the British boys care for his caged bird and Coined dog. When such pets are entirely ul the mercy of the owners it is a bad sign they are neglected- Those parents who see in their children the first signs of pitilessness towards the dumb creation, will do well toin*culcate lessons of kindness. How sensible and good parents would start back with horror at the first signs of their children's disposition to intemperance, but cruelty to animals would be an equally alarming trait. No boy or girl cruel to animals, could be reasonably expected to grow up to be kind to parents, or to their future wives, husbands, or children. Napoleon began his career by tormenting flies, and he ended it by contemplating immense human suffering without much concern. The unfortunate caf-tle in question must have suffered dreau/ully in being trampled to death. It u? a y be hard.to fix the blame on any particular person, but the system is to blame which renders such a thing possible. Something must be done by the authorities. There has been a very great deal of suffering inflicted on dumb animals travelling on the railways. This is only one of the cases of torture that has come to light. There may be a necessity to enforce more care in shunting. How comes it that cattle can be put upon a train in splendid condition, and within a few hours can be trampled to death, presenting the gruesome spectacle of their skins being denuded of hair, and their bodies flattened? It is shocking to think of such a thing, to say nothing <of the serious money loss to hard-working farmers who, perhaps, cannot afford it. Man is in a great measure dependent upon animals. They save him much labour; minister to his bodily requirements and to Ms wealth. They are given to him in the course of nature by a beneficient Providence, and it is incumbent on all men to see that they do not suffer unnecessarily. Indeed the

law of the land, to say nothing of any higher law, requires that men shall treat animals properly with due consideration. We are very glad to see that the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken the matter up, and that a representation will be made to the Minister for Railways. Moral obligations bind us to the law of mercy. The wanton infliction of pain upon animals, or the carelessness or negligence which results in unnecessary suffering by them, is an offence against civil, moral, and religious law, and an insult to the benificent Creator, who gave animals to man for his proper use and pleasure. He placed them in man’s charge, giving him Dominion over them, and if man abuses his trust by ill treatment of them he hardens and lowers his own nature and antagonises Him whose mercy extends to the smallest creatures. From Te Aroha and from every town and hamlet in New Zealand there should go a letter to the Minister of Railways imploring better consideration for animals in trains.