The Junior League.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 21 (Supplement)

The Junior League.

SOCIETY *OR PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. •* I will try to make any animal I have In my care very happy.” rinar Rnvi «n/S CJlrl« ! un-lno-a nesrlno- hOXOR and TOOStS. It 8

Dear Boys and Girls, \ We all admire a worker, don’t we? Well. now. ir there was a prize for the best worker, 1 believe It would go to June Swann, because this week she sent In another name to be enrolled on our Junior League. Splendid, June, and thank you! I have told you beTore. that It is a Joy to relate nice facts to you. Now, here Is one which will delight you, as It did me. I have Just read It In an F.ng■JHsh paper, which come to rne each week. T wish I could reproduce the pictures for you to see, as 1 cannot do so, 1 will try to describe them. The first is or a one-eyed wild thrush. His name Is Sir Oratlo Nelson. He Is a pupil in a school to teach birds to fly. 1 know what you are saying. " Tinker Bell must bo talkneed to be taught to fl.v.” You are quite right, but the S.P.C.A. In England has round out that thero are very many llttlo wild birds shut up In cages, especially in i owns. Some or these llttlo creatures have been confined since babyhood, without once enjoying their right of freo flight. Their poor Teathers are crushed and their wings become paralysed. The S.P.C.A. has opened a home for these at Ember Farm, Thames. Dllton, Surrey. The object is to give birds who have ueen 111 treated, Injured or through long confinement have lost their powers or flight, a chance to regain the use of their wings. As soon as they are expert flyers they are allowed to go free. In the flying ' school, which Is a huge wired mclosure, there are trees, shrubs, tiny ladders,

t, swings, nesting boxes and roosts. u «« I crippled bird Is found, or a bird rescued ' from some cage, It Is sent to the ScbooL i One of the pictures I have Is of Jackie Jackdaw.” He had spent his lire In a 1 , little cage and could not use his xi mgs lat all. He is being taught to walk up a 1 little ladder; by fluttering Ills wings he win gradually gain strength and bo able i to fly. Sir Oratlo Nelson, the wild thrush , was round In Kensington Gardens, London. In February; he was frozen and quite helpless. The society took charge 1 or him and now he Is at the ” School.” i The attendant who 'have charge are I culled ” pllolt. Ciller Pilot Gilbert, In an Interview ■ with the newspaper reporter, said: “ There are hundreds of wild birds In rages; we are rescuing them wherever possible; we bring them here, where they first learn to hop, and later to fl.v.” i Now. children, isn’t that Just lovely? It made me feel I wanted to go back and : livo once more where there Is taught kindness to animals and birds. Here In New Zealand men cage up birds and then release them and shoot them. They call this ” sport.” In a lew weeks, at Morrlnsvillo, men will come from all over Now Zealand; hundreds of pigeons will bo shot, some blown to pieces, others will get away Injured and die a lingering, painful death. How sad the heart of God will be when he sees such treatment to the lovely little bird 3 lie has given us to 1 care lor. I hope you will all tell your rathers about this, ami they may bo able 1 to help us to stop this cruelty. Good-bye, children. TINKER BELL.