THE R . S. P . C. A .
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May I draw attention to that important branch of the Society's work which depends for its success on the willingness of the public at large to pay heed to its represen- tations? I refer chiefly to the prevention or mitigation of cruelties (that is, unnecessary sufferings) which are not dealt with by statute. In very many directions suffering is avoided and good work leading to the same result is accomplished by persuasion or by merely putting the facts from the point of view of the animals. By its splendid record in the past and by its position as the premier Society of its kind in the world the R.S.P.CA. has acquired a prestige which entitles its views on such matters to consideration. That bitter and intemperate dissensions amongst its members, publicly carried on, tend to lower the Society's prestige, and thereby reduce its influence in the directions indicated, will hardly be denied.
One of the chief of the Society's present activities is the promotion of humane slaughter. It is or should be known that owing to the prevalence in England of the private slaughterhouse system the matter cannot be dealt with as in more favoured countries. The most likely way of bringing about effective legislation throughout the country by Act of Parliament is, therefore, first to get the use of the humane killer satisfactorily adopted on a large scale. In pursuance of this policy the Society has been trying to persuade meat traders to use it, and local authorities to exercise their powers to make it compulsory in their respective districts, the result being that with the welcome help of other Societies and of many private persons the number of animals now being mercifully slaughtered by this appliance is approximately two millions annually. Some typical comments recently made in a Press organ of the meat trade were in effect, "How can the R.S.P.C.A. have the assurance to interfere in our affairs when they do not even know how to manage their own ? "
The following case also illustrates how the Society brings its influence to bear successfully in preventing cruelty. Some years ago it was reported to the Society that passengers of various nationalities on British liners were in the habit of amusing themselves whilst passing through a straits in the
Southern Hemisphere by shooting at the birds following the steamer, regardless of the wounded ones left to perish miser- ably. The Society approached the Shipping Company, with. the result that notices were posted in the steamers prohibiting the practice.
. The R.S.P.C.A. constantly writes letters to the Press and makes representations to bodies of people or individuals calling attention to cruelties which might be avoided, although not prohibited by law, and pointing out the remedies. Similar work is carried on by the Society's 200 i-ispectors in the form of advice and suggestion, tactfully conveyed.
All this fruitful work is seriously jeopardized by any lower- ing of the Society's prestige, and it would be easy to point to other of the Society's activities which would suffeu from the same cause. The immediate problems waiting for solution are to settle the proxy question fairly and impartially and to aim at re-establishing the Society's prestige. The chief responsibility in both these matters naturally rests with the Council of the R.S.P.C.A.—I am, Sir, &c., R. 0. P. PADDISON.
Bozcnhain, Stroud, Glos.
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