[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIn,—Mr. Paddison is a member of the R.S.P.C.A. Council, and an expert adviser on Humane Slaughter. May we ask him to explain to us certain statements in his letter.
Why should humane slaughter be enforced over " large areas " when made bompulsory by local authorities, and not over the whole 'country, when made compulsory by legisla-
tion ? The get „lib& desires such legislation ; and the Passage of the Scottish Bill has shown that a great majority in both Houses of Parliament approve it. Why, then, should the R.S.P.C.A. restrict its efforts to persuasion of meat traders to use the Humane -Killer, and of Local Authorities to pass
.
by-laws ? This means that only " approximately twe million " animals a year are humanely killed ; and that the other millions are killed with pole-axe or knife. Why has not the R.S.P.C.A. brought forward a Bill to make humane slaughter compulsoiy throughout Great Britain, with ti clause giving free entrance to Inspectois of the R.S.P.C.A. to all places licensed for slaughter ? Such an Act would preVent untold suffering,- and modify the scandal of the private slaughter-house system.
But should the " premier society of its kind in the world acquiesce in this system ? The R.S.P.C.A. has close on 2,000 branches and auxiliarieS, a large organized staff, and enormous funds. It could easily rouse public feeling through. out the country against the system of private slaughter- houses, and through the public bring pressure on Parliament,- forcing the scandal to the fore, till legislation puts an end to it. In the meantime they could invest some of their enormous capital in the establishment of several model slaughter-houses, to be an exampleland a menace to the meat traders. All this the R.S.P.C.A. could do, with its immense organization, prestige, and wealth. And all this it ought to do, because it is guardian for the animals and trustee of public money given for their uttermost protection.
But Mr. Paddison informs us that " the immediate prob- lems waiting for solution are to settle the proxy, question fairly and impartially, and to aim at re-estahlishing the
Society's prestige."—I am, Sir, &c., A. M. F. COLE. International League Against the Export of Horses for Butchery, 11 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.2.
Previous page
