CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2576, 15 January 1889, Page 2

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

TO run EDITOR. Sin,—l do not wonder that the settlers in Waikato prefer hiving their cattle driven by road rather than send them by train. On Monday last I. was witness to a disgraceful scene »t the (ireenlane Station where my attention was directed by one. of Hunter and X-lin's men to a truck of cattle. On nvwhing the truck 1 saw four head of bullocks down—two on their backs jiitl two lyii:g against them—and they could not ;-. !, up. With the assistance of two uUi.'.i , men we succeeded in pulling them nut -.vith a rope, and it was some time before we could get them on their legs. One. we. thought, was dead, but after about half-aii-hour he recovered. Now, what state would these cattle be in, aii'l what proportion of damaged meat would be taken into account by the buyers'.' Such treatment as this will be sure to go against, the value of cattle, and will bo some explanation of the low prices some cattle bring in the market as no doubt the butchers are quick enough to spot cal.tle much damaged ;n,.l buy accordingly. The whole of this trouble "vonld bo avoided if special through night trains were provided ; but so long asc.iti.le are sent in ordinary trains, the constant shunting is bound to give a recurrence of the same state of things as I witnessed. — Yours truly, I'L P. l)OS.\i;i.l,v.