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the desirability of carrying into effect before next be season proposals already sanctioned for the local production of a curative serum for plague. Altogether Dr. THOMSON's report is a most instructive and suggestive document, and we hope that it will retive the fullest attention.
HI.E. THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENT,
OFF CIAL CONFIRMAT ON.
We received on the 2nd inst. from Sir John Keane, Private Secretary to H.E. the Governor, a letter stating that he was directed by His Excellency to inform us that he had received the following telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies :-
"It gives me much pleasure to inform yon that His Majesty has been pleased to approve of your appointment as Governor of Ceylon."
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY
TO ANIMALS.
SOCIETY FORMED IN HONGKONG.
A public meeting of ladies and gentlemen interested in the formation in the Colony of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on the 28th alt. in the City Hall, H. E. the Governor, who was accom- panied by Lady Blake, presiding.
In proposing the first resolution on the paper, HIS EXCELLENCE explained the objects of the meeting, and said the formation of such a Society in Hongkong hat not come a day too 8000. He referred to cases of cruelty to animals that had come auder h's own notice, where horses, cattle, and fowls were made the victims of unnecessary suffering, and expressed the conviction that carelessness or thoughtless. ness on the part of the people inflicting that suffering had a great deal to do with it. He quoted an instance that occurred once in the West Indies, where, riding along the road one day, he saw an old negro woman carrying some fowls to the markets by their legs with their heads hanging down He stopped the old woman and said to her-That is a cruel thing to do; how would you like, my good lady, if I took you up by the feet and carried you that way for two or three miles?" She appeared outraged at the idea, but carried the fowls properlyfter that. She simply had not thought about it. In the same way there was a complaint here recently about gross cruelty to a pony, which had been driven about all day and at last dropped and nearly died; it was possible that there the Chinese thought as little about that pony as the Cockney, whom Mr. Leitch was fond of caricaturing in the pages of Punch years ago, thought about his horse. When told that the animal might be driven for thirty miles but could not possibly be driven for sixty, he answered-" It's all right; I have bought two whips." It most of these cases it was probable that the cruelty was the result of unfeeling thoughtlessuess rather than deliberate brutality. The purpose of the Society was to stimulate the suscept bilities of these thoughtless persons and bring before them appreciation of the fact that God, who had laid upon all animals the capacity to suffer, had planted in the human breast the seeds of sympathy, and pity, and mercy, and without cultivation of these quali ties, a man, or woman, however successful or high or mighty, was but a poor creature whose mind had been deformed by neglect or abuse As Shakespeare, had said in his beauti.al lines Meroy is attribute to Gad himself.” Mis ency, whose remarks were received applause, then read the following resolution standing in his name:-That it is desirable to form a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to, Animals in Hongkong and it be now resolved that such a Society be hereby formed under the name of "The Hongkong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
000
our
800
[September 7, 1903,
in this movement and our thanks for his is necessary to here state that our idea is accepting the Presidency of our new Socie y lurgely educational beth amongst the Chinese and for agreeing to preside at this and also the children of the Colony. I trust inauguration meeting. While thanking His therefore that our suggestions on this subject Excellency for the support he has given us, it will receive the earnest consideration of those is, if we come to think of it, only fitting that engaged in educational work in Hongkong, and the representative of His Majesty should. I would add that I hope later on we may take the lead in such a morcment, for our way to offering prizes for the best as we all know His Majesty for many years essays bearing on the question of kindness was closely connected with similar soci-ties in to animals to be competed for by children England, and. to mention
instauce, iu
the various educational establishments. only recently made a firm stand against the Auother point which I think might be docking of horses. His place is now being considered is the establishment, in co-operation worthily filled by H.R.H, the Prince of with the police, of a home for lost dogs Wales. It is perhaps only right that I should and cats; in fact an extension might be further remind you of the very great interest arranged of the existing establishment already our gracious Queen has so consistently evinced maintained by the police for stray dogs. With in everything relating to the humane treatment regard to cases of individual acts of cruelty, of auimals, and how she was, many years ago, the existing law provides certain degrees of among the first to discourage pigeon-shooting punishment, but in really wanton cases, such as matches. In seconding the resolution therefore the burning alive of rats) or killing them in proposed by Hs Excellency, I trust I may be cages by slowly pouring boiling water on them allowed to express the hope that before long(a favourite pastime of native servants) I would we may succeed in obtaining the necessary venture to suggest that mere imprisonment does permission to add the word "Royal" to the not meet the case. People who can be guilty of name of our Society and that our Society may such acts are more easily appealed to physically then le kunwn as the Royal Society for the or through their purse, and I for one would Gross cases Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. As to the like to see the law amended. need for such a Society as this being formed in
of cruelty should in my opinion be treated Hongkong. I fear ther cannot but be one as is robbery with violence, and the Courts opinion aud that is that it is very badly required. should I consider in such cases be empowered While we must give full credit to what is doe to inflict heavier fines, coupled, at discretion, by the polics and other authorities towards with corporal punishment. In the case of an putting down individual cases of cruelty, we animal being injured (such as for instance a know that by themselves they cannot do all horse which is lame) but capable of being cured, that is required to put a stop to the great and it should be placed under suitable care until its entirely unnecessary cruelty to which so large recovery be effected, the expenses incurred to a number of dumb creatures is daily subjected. be borne by those responsible for its condition. A trade With these remarks I have much pleasure in I will indicate a few instances of this. in cat'le, even at the best, must result in much secouding the resolution proposed by His suffering to poor beasts, and the trade here in Excellency, both cattle and pigs is no exception to this rule. During the past few days have been informed that drenching is universally practised at the catt'e sheds; this I need hardly point out is not only a fraud on those purchasing cattle but results in con-iderable suffering to the uufortuna's animal. While the rew Act now before the Legislature will go far towards ameliorating the condition of the animals when it becomes law, an Art by itself is at sufficient; constant supervision is necessary to see the provisions of the Act are observed. In this matter the Society might reader valuable asfis ance.
The overcrowding of birds in baskets imp rfectly provided with food and water, as already stated by His Excelloncy, is another matter requiring attention, although I freely admit that the market inspectors and others have of recent years effec'ed considerable improvements on the former condition of affairs. The bird aud dog shops, while also better controlled than formerly, still require constant supervision in order to prevent suffering to their unfortunate stock iù trad, as also the public livery stables. It is, however, when
የፀ
The Hou. WEI YUK supported the resolution
which was carried unaniniously.
The BISHOP OF VICTORIA proposed the second resolution as follows:- The purpose of the Society is to encourage by every possible means the promotion of humanitarianism towards Animal Creation (a) be members of the Society will do all in their power to put a stop to cruelty to animals by individual effort. (b) They will use their best endeavours to teach the true meaning of kindness to anima's to all with whom they are brought into contact and to educate children in these views; to which end they would suggest the introduction of books bearing on this subject into the schools of the Colony. (c) It is further proposed to gain this object as regards the Chinese by the and circulation of suitable translation
The Bishop literature amongst them." said he was glad to hear that the chief object of the Society was to be educational, and for that reason he was glad that the re- solation had been put into his hands, because the meth d advocated by that resolution was chiefly education. His firm conviction was that the Chinese were not a cruel people, and where one found cases of cruelty these things were The conditions only owing to ignorance. under which the Chinese of the poor r class lived tended to promote thoughtlessness with regard to the treatment of their animals and fowls, and the proper way to teach them kindness was by educational means rather than to be prosecutions. If there people were taught to be humane towards animals, we must set the example by being humane to our fellow- men, for nothing tended so much to brutalise a man as to be treated like a brute himself. (Hear, hear.) Only the other day Le had
ricksha.coolie flog B
cane, and whilst on that point he should like to see a good many of the canes carried about the stree's in the hauds of officials and semi-officials quietly put in the fire. If we trie to teach our fellow-men to be humane, kindness towards them would be more likely to lead to gentle treatment towards animals on their part.
come to the actual Filling of animals for food that the greatest cruelty is dis covered. One matter to which I think we hould direct our attention is the proper pole-axit g of all cattle, and that all water buffa fors should be shot. I believe I am correct in saying that there is not a single proper poleaxe in the Colony. I also consider that so far as possible ali slaughter houss on the mainland should be placed under European supervision; as is well-known, the Chinese, through callousness or more likely ignorance, inflict at time great suffering whik killing animals. I could give a knowledge were it necessary to do so. anumber of instances of which I have personal With rgard to the killing of birds, here again unfor- severely with a ลบ
tuuately great cruelty is often practised, chiefly in plucking birds alive or in plunging them into scalding water after their throats have been cat but before the miserable creatures are dead,
Excell-
with
Mr. E. A. HEWETT sad--Your Excellen Lady Blake, ladies and gentlemen,-As it has fallen to me to second the first resolution proposed by His Excelency the Governor. I trust I may be permitted on behalf of those here present to express to His Excellency the appreciation we feel at the interest he has shown
Some of the instances referred to are those which might well receive the attention of the Com- mitt e; in others we must trust to the care of individu 1 householders to put a stop to sach ouses of cruelty. At first at all events we propose to carry on the work of the Society with it may be found unpaid labour; later on desirable to employ paid inspectors and pos- sibly a paid secretary, should the inc.ease in the work of the Society prove this neces- sary. The aims of the Society are set forth in another resolution, and it only therefore
seen 8 man
most
Mr. E. H. SHARP, K.C., seconded the resolu- tion. He also instanced acts of cruelty that the Society would be called upon to preveut, but said that most of the work of the Society would arise in connection with cruelties oconrring during the carriage of animals to Hongkong. To illustrate what his point was, Mr. Sharp referred to the transport of cattle on the West River, where on board ship many of them, tied
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