THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1908. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9127, 29 June 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1908. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

"A merciful man is merciful to his beasts." Cruelty to dumb animals-is one of those offences which the human race, generally speaking, is guilty of far too frequently, and much too gro3sly. In "sport," or rather in certain alleged forms of it, the most brutal acts are committed, and openly tolerated, if not approved of. Apart, however, from what may be done "in sport" there is reason to fear that animals { are constantly treated with cruelty in this country, and it is gratifying to find that the Society which exists or preventing cruelty to animals is anxious to be a more "live" body in j the future than it has been in the I past. A branch has recently been

formed locally, while we notice that the delegates of the New Zealand Societies, who have just concluded a Conference in Wellington, have waited upon the Minister for Agriculture and placed various matters before him. The deputation, of cours-?, wanted legislation. It seems, according to Mr W. F. Inder, of Gore, who introduced the deputation to the Minister, that the only legislation at present bearing on the subject, is contained in one section of the Police Offences Act. Other countries are ahpad of New Zealand in the matter. The Commonwealth of Australia and different foreign countries have Acts designed to prevent cruelty to animals. The deputation urged that the present method of slaughtering was brutal and antiquated, that cruelty often attended the transit of animals by rail and boat, that no proper accommodation for dogs was provided by the Railway Department, and that extra dog boxes on the railway were most urgently needed. Dogs, it was stated, were frequently mangled in the course of transit. Decrepit horses are killed in Wellington in an absolutely cruel manner, according to a Canterbury delegate. Otlur flutters were also brought under the notice of the Minister. It was further urged that the Society should be subsidised by the Government, and the actions of Governments in Africa, Canada, and the Australian States were quoted as examples to be followed. In reply, the Minister for Agriculture said it would be impossible for him to bring down legislation this session. He suggested, however, that the proposed Bill should be brought before the House this session by a private member for the purpose of having it referred to the Agricultural and Stock Committee, who could take evidence, and propose amendments, and put the Bill generally into something approaching workable form. The hearing, according to the deputation, was sympathetic, and several "points" were explained to the delegates by the Minister. No doubt if the

Society keeps "oegging away" at the Government it will succeed in obtaining the legislation asked for and in furthering the good work that it has as its object.