S. P. G. A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2560, 22 July 1909, Page 3

S. P. G. A.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the East Coast branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Colonel Porter (President) occupied tho chair, and there was a large attendance of members. The President submitted the following report: — “In meeting members of the society at this, its second, annual assembly, I have much pleasure in reporting steady and good progress, and the attainment generally of its humane objects, for which the society was founded in this district. The main aim of the executive officers and committee .of the society has been to .art unobtrusively and in a spirit of moderation to suppress acts of cruelty, without j>rosecutions, where such could be legitimately avoided, and the society has been able to suppress, and also to prevent, very many acts of cruelty to dumb animals. On the other hand, the. executive has not hesitated to prosecute offenders for flagrant cruelty after consultation wi.tb their legal adviser, when assured the prosecutions would result in convictions. Many members have at times been under the impression that because tho society was not continually prosecuting in the Magistrate’s Court that it was consequently inactive, but I need not assure members that it has been very active during the past year, and reference to the inspector’s report will give sufficient details of the most prominent cases that have come under tho society’s sphere of action. _ The first annual meeting of the society- was held on the Bth of July last year. The number of subscribing members on that date was 73, and I am pleased to be able to report that the present strength is 102, being an increase of 79. _ This large increase is -principally attributable to the personal efforts and popularity of our new secretary, Mr H. M. Porter. I have very much pleasure m reporting the zeal and activity of the inspector (Mr R. Thelwall) in performance of the duties pertaining to -his office, also to the hon. secretary, Mr H. M. Porter, who has lately filled the secretarial position, and yet has done so much in the short time that he has been in office, I have also to commend the hon. treasurer, Mir T. A.' (Coleman, whose services have always been available when required. The ladies and gentlemen, of the several committees have been regular in attendance at meetings when required to advise and direct the executive officers in carrying out their respectivo duties. In conclusion., I woii-d briefly refer to the very marked and active operations of similar societies throughout the Dominion, evidence! by the large number of convictions obtained in the various Magistntes’ Courts, and it is a matter of cong-r.i-vuntion due from all the societies to the Stipendiary Magistrates -who have so well supported the humane object, the prevention of cruelty to animals. In this district the police authorities have also shown earnest readiness to co-operate with the society’s inspector on every occasion wherever .assistance or information was required of them. . “Book of Rules: The attention of members is particularly called to the directions and objects of the society, as set forth at pages 6 and 7. Particularly page 6 will show each member 'what course td pursue in cases, of cruelty coming under their notice.” The report submitted by the Inspector, Mr R. Thelwall, was as follows: “I am pleased to report that the last year has been entirely successful. The interest of members has been -well maintained and the influence of the Society throughout the district is becoming more apparent every day. Many persons have formed the idea that the aim of the Society is to punish individuals for cruelty to dumb animals, but I wish here to emphasise the fact that our chief object is to prevent cruelty by every means that lies in our. power, and in some extreme cases we have had to call in the assistance of the jaw, but, as already stated, our chief object is to prevent cruelty that is likely to take place either, wilfully or through negligence. With that object in view very many eases have been dealt with that have not come under the eye of the general public. Since our last -annual meeting the following cases have come under my notice, and have been dealt with: Seven cases of working horses with sore shoulders, in three of which I called in the services of a veterinary, surgeon; four horses taken from stables, condemned and shot; two horses taken from cab plying for hire I caused to bo turned out; three cases of horses bein'; worked when lame and in unfit condition ; one case of a dog being tied up without food or shelter, guarding sheep. The practice of driving hordes with sore shoulders is, I am sorry to say, still very prevalent, especially in the case of milk vans and bakers’ carts, but 1.-am keeping a sharp look-out for cases of this nature. In June last a coursing meeting was held at the Gisborne Park, a full report of which I have alrea'dy sent in? I understand thpt an inquiry into the conduct of the meeting is to he held by the New Zealand Coursing Association. I understand legal advice was taken -as to whether the actions of the officials constituted cruelty, hut so far no action appears to have been taken.” Both reports were adopted without discussion.

The balance-sheet showed that the Society had a credit balance of about £l3. The following officers were elected: President, Colonel Porter, C. 8.; vicepresidents, Mrs. T. W. Porter, His Worship the. Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar), the Revs. F. M r - Chatterton and W. Grant; committee, Mesdames Ghatterton. Walker, Creswell, Graham, Godfrey, Haultain, Goffe. and deLautour, Misses Oakley and Greer, Messrs W. Webb, J. C. Field, J. Peckover, W. Aston, J. R. Kirk, and G. E. Oar ton ; treasurer, Mr. T. Alston Coleman.; hon. solicitor, _ Mr. C. A. deLautour; hon. veterinarian, Mr. Luttrell; hon. secretary, Air. LI. M. Porter.; hon. auditor, Mb. A: Graham; Inspector, Air. It. Thelwall.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Luttrell for his services to the Society as honorary veterinarian.

The.question of granting honorariums to the secretary and inspector was referred to the committee. Air. deLautour mentioned that there was no water available for stock between Tolega Bay and Gisborne in the summer. and a scarcity of water on. other stock routes. He thought the committee might .consider some means of

obtaining water '‘for stock during the summer months. '

On tho motion of the President, it was decided to provide each member of the Society with -a distinctive badge, that could ho shown when they ‘interfered to prevent cruelty. Mr. Kirk- suggested that agents should be appointed in country districts to watch for cases of cruelty. The question of making children associates of the Society was suggested by; Mr. Kirk, and referred to tho General Committee. A vote of thanks was passed to tho retiring officers, and the meeting then closed.. 4 '