HUMANE SLAUGHTER
[To the Editor of the SPECTAT011.1
Sin,—Anyone who protects animals in England and in Latin countries will know that in England the crowd is always for the animal, while in Latin countries it is usually apathetic. In Italy Mr. Hawkesley has been attacked many times, and nearly killed at least once, for attacking cruelty. If in such country humane slaughter is obligatory, and vivisection is to be abolished, this proves the enormous power of the dictator and his personal justice to animals.
The vast majority of English people abhor cruelty, and the majority of M.P.s would support any measure to stop it.
Why, then, have we no law to make humane slaughter obligatory ? Had one energetic campaign been made through- out England to expose the horrors of slaughter in England, and a Bill brought in, it would certainly have passed. And so of other great cruelties : oil on waters ; trapping ; the export of horses for butchery. Pamphlets and pictures do not reach the mass of the population. What is needed is to educate the public to a widespread vigorous attack on one cruelty at a time : public meetings, films, posters, Press campaign, working up to the necessary legislation.
My long experience has convinced me that once clearly informed on any cruelty our public and our M.P.s are ready to do their utmost to prevent it. A big society with a wide organization and big funds could, by the means I have men- tioned, get a Bill well supported against any great cruelty. Why, then, in England is slaughter often unspeakably cruel ? Why are thousands of pigs daily tortured "on the wheel" and why do other great cruelties go on practically unchecked ?-
I am, Sir, &c., A. M. F. COLE. International League Against the Export of Horses for Butchery, 5, Blocmisbury Square, W.C. I.
[We agree with Miss Cole when she writes" that the majority of the English people abhor cruelty." Like her, we cannot understand why humane slaughter is not obligatory in Great Britain—the fact that we permit the vast majority of the animals killed for food to be slaughtered by antiquated and inhumane methods is a national disgrace.—En. Spectator.]
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