The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-10-22 00:00:00

4ocal ant gistrict

STOURBRIDGE ASSOCIATION FOR THE
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANI ALS

The annual meeting of this Society, was held in
the Corn Exchange, on Monday evening, Mr. C.
Cochrane in the chair. There were also on the
platform the Rev. J. J. Welch, Rev. D. Maginnis,
Mr. A. Freer, Mr. W. Cooper, and Mr. H. Turney.
There was a large attendance.
The Chairman read letters of apology for non-
attendance from the Rev, G. Giloanks, Rev. H.
Sherrard. Mess's. G. K. Harrison, W. B. Collis, H.
W. Smith, and J. Taylor.
The minutes of the last meeting were r.!ad and
passed and the Chairman called on the hon. see, to
read the following reports

REPORT -FOE- THE YEAR 1880-81.
THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

Your committee in presenting their 6th annual
report, consider that the work of the past yee.r will
compare very favourably with that of other years.
The convictions obtained before the magistrates
amount to 11, there being two more than the num-
ber of convictions last year. These were all very
serious cases, as it has been the desire of the com-
mittee only to prosecute in cases of grows cruelty.
Ten horses and ponies have been destroyed to
avoid prosecution, each case being morally equivalent
to a conviction before the magistrates, and 13
horses and ponies have been destroyed at the re-
quest of the Officer. In addition to these eases
127 cautions have been given in cases of a more or
less serious nature, particulars of which are re-
corded in the journal kept for that purpose. It is
worthy of note that most of the more serious cases
are in connection with pers. ns not belonging to
Stourbridge, who have been passing through
Stourbridge from Dudley, Kidderminster, Broms-
grove and other towns, thus showing that Stour-
bridge and the immediate vicinity are comparatively
free from gross cases of cruelty. If the committee
were in possession of more funds they would be
able to extend their operations, and do good in
district 3 sadly in need of some attention. As it is
the officer has occasionally gone somewhat beyond
the districts of the Association with good results.
On all occasions where special attention has been
required, such as horse fairs, stock sales, 4kc the
officer has had instructions to attendand do all in his
power to prevent cruelty by persuasioo and advice.
He has been particularly useful in advising the
poorer classis respecting their harness, and the
question of bearing reius has received daily atten-
tion. It is very much to be r,gretted that a large
number of owners of horses still continue it use.
Your commlttee consider that no opportunity
should be lost on the part of those couri,..Tted with
the Association, to point out the injuries indicted
by the use of the bearing rein,
Mr. F. Blakeway, the Hon. V.S. has given his
profess'onal advice in 26 cases during the year, and
the committee are very much indebted to him for
his valuable services. Mr. Wren, of Stourbridge,
and Mr. Green, of Dudley, have also kindly
assisted the officer in cases of necessity.
A Sub-Committee consisting of the Rev. D.
Maginnis and Mr. If. H. Smith, were appointed to
carry out the arrangements in connection with the
exantinatien of the Elementary Schoole of the
di-
trict, on "Kindness to animals," and their report
is as follows :

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.
REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON SAME. The
Text Book ch. sen for the year just ended was "A
I%lotter's Lessons on Kindness to Animals." While
your Sub Commttee were makinte amngements
for the examination appointed to be held at the
lull Street Board School, by permission of the
School Board, on the Bth inst. it was found, when
it wes too late to rectify the mistake, that the little
book did not reach the teachers of several of the
schools for which it was intended, and that in con-
sequence of this, the rumber of children who pre-
sented themselves for examination was much smaller
than on former occasions. Only 13 boys attended,
—9 from Hill Street Board Sehosil, ,3 from Enville
Street Board School, and 1 from St. Jame,'
National School, Wollaston. The examination was
conducted by means ot written answers to prescribed
questions. The papers in every instance showed
intimate acquaintance with the contents of the
book, and although slight differences are noticeable
in the fulness of answers, the an4wering on the
whole is so good in every instance that the sub-com-
mittee have decided to give a small prize to each of
the 13 boys. H. Hammond Smith and D.
Meee,innis, sub committee.
Your Committee very much regret that so
few boys presented themselves for examination,
and that there was an entire absence of girls.
Your committee while thanking the many friends
of the Association for their continued support, beg
to point out that the association is very much in
need of more funds. In the past two years the in-
come has not been equal to tee expenditure. and
the committee have been compelled to draw upon
the substantial balance which was c,eated by the
liberality of friends at the commencement of the
Association. It is evident that the Association is,
by employing an Inspector, is doing a good work
in the neighbourhood, but it is necessary to have
funds in order to carry out this work successfully,
and the Committee make a special appeal for sup.
port to all interested in the prevention of cruelty
to animals.

- -
Should the Association be compelled to withdraw
their officer through want of funds, a great deal of
the goad which has been done in the neighbourhood
would be undone, and Stourbridge e ould probably
fall into the same deplorable state in connection
with the treatment of animals as many of those
towns where then is no organization for the
prevention of cruelty to animals. While the
collectors have obtained several fvw subscribers,
some cf the old mem ers have discontinued their
subscriptions, so that the funds of the Association
have not increased. Your Committee look for sup-
port to the owners of hors s and cattle, who by
their daily intercourse with ani, als, know la >w
important it i 4 that the dumb creatures who
supply our wants should be treated with kindness.
It is by individual effort that such an Association
is made useful, and the committee earnestly hope
that they will receive more support from the
cla,•43es who are most interested in the objects of
the Association.

TUB INSPECTOR'S REPORT.—" I have respectfully
to report that during the year eleven convictions
for eases of extreme cruelty have been obtained be-
fore the magistrates; eight of the offenders were
previously eautionod for similar acts. A number
of persons have been cautioned for minor acts of
cruelty, and 127 special cautions have been given
to persons who have been guilty of serious offences;
and had it been my instructions to bring a large
number of cases before the magistrates, the num-
ber of convictions would have been greatly in-
creased, as in 10 eases the horses were destroyed
to avoid prosecution, which is equivalent to a con-
viction. Duing the year 26 animals have been ex-
amined at my request by Mr. Blakeway, hon. V.S.
Ten have beea destroyed, 16 stoppel hem road-
work, and sold to do farm-work on land, which I
have endeavoured ts see carried out. Thirteen
horses have been destroyed at my request, 6 of
that number from Dudley horse fair in Oct., 1880.
Constant attenti- n has been paid to the fittting of
bearing reine and bits, and also persuading the
poersr class to keep their harnsss in good repair, as
my experience teaches me that in nine cases out ot
ten sores are caused by old and bad-fitting harness,
but lam glad to report that there is a great im-
provement. At the same time there is a great deal
more to he done with proper and constant at.en-
tion. The stock silo yards at Stourbridge and
Hagley have been regularly visitsd, and several of
the drovers have been cant ioaed for acts of cruelty
Strict atteation has also been paid to excursions to
and ft our Cleat and to the treatment of ponies and
donkeys on Clent Hills and great improvement
has taken place in that quarter. During the sum-
mer months I have been on duty in the afternoon
at least two days in esch week. Also the canal
towing paths have been regnlarly visited, several
convictions having been obtaiaed. and a number of
persons belonging to the boating; classes, have been
cautisned for acts of cruelty. The horses em-
ployed on the nielit mail service have been ex-
amined at least two nights every wesk, and I have
to report that they are well cared for, the harness
being kept in good repair and well fitted, and
every means takea to prevent beres, &C. ; (luring
the winter months great care was taken in the nay oi
shoeing to enable them to travel when the roads
were slippery. The water troughs aee much ap-
preciated by all horse and cattle owners. The new
long trough near Amblecote church is a great im-
provement on the old one, as hessea du not now
have to wait their turn to get to the water. The
troughs are cleaned out frequently, st least every
week, and eftener if required, They have all been
repainted and lettered during the summer months,
Iwhich was a great improvement.—James Brown,
Inspector P.C.A., Worcester Streaia
Mr. W. Cooper read the £naneial statement,
which showed the subscriptions and donations in
the past year amounted to i',64 8s 6d, Tee balance
in hand at the close of the year was .29 9s Bd—a
decrease as compared with the previous year,
The report was adopted, and priscs were distri •
bated to school children who had passed an exam-
ination on the subject of kindness to animals.
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr.
Brooks, the report WAS adopted.

Mr. A. Freer moved a resolution rejoicing in
the success of the Society, and trusting that it
would be able to render still greater services in
promoting Vle hun,ane treatment of dumb animals.
Mr. Freer expressed his belief that the association
had dal) inaportest itavioe .iu thisreopect, mad