[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Storm clouds which had
long been gathering burst at the recent extraordinary meeting. Dissatisfaction amongst mem- bers all over the country is keen and acute. The question of fox-hunting or shooting has nothing to do with it, and has been merely raised to hoodwink the public and obscure the issues. The trouble is that the subscribers feel that large sums of money are being wasted on polls and proxies and extraordinary meetings to stifle their criticisms and com- plaints, and that they have a right to demand that their money should be expended for the purpose for which it was given, viz., matters connected with the welfare of animals.
They claim—and this is at the root of nearly all the trouble —that the Society, instead of progressing, has actually receded in policy, and this in spite of the fact that, throughout the world, humane thought has made immense advances. They keenly feel that the sales of old horses to the Continent is a
blot on this country, and that if the Society, with all the wealth and influence it can command, seriously took the matter in hand, this hideous traffic would speedily be abolished. The hunting of animals made captive and released for the purposes of sport, such as the bagged rabbit and the carted stag, is an abuse of animals which scarcely a sportsman worthy of the name could be found to defend. The Society, it is claimed, has made a pretence of introducing a Bill to abolish these spurious sports, year after year, but no real effort is made to break down the opposition of the handful of Members of Parliament who block its passage through the House.
The keeping of wild animals in small cages at menageries and the cruelties inseparable from trained animals in circuses are matters on-which the members feel very keenly, but find it impossible to get the Society to act.
The sufferings of pit ponies, the hunting of animals heavy with young, caging of English wild birds—all these and similar humane objects are the matters which are agitating members. They ask and claim their right to demand that the Society should throw off the inertia into which it has sunk—that it keep faith with the subscribers and benefactors from whom it has acquired its wealth, whose money was given for the alleviation of suffering animals.
If the abolition of the cruelties and abuses outlined are repugnant to individual members of the Council, they, it is felt, should vacate their seats and make room for others having knowledge of the subjects, and having the reforms keenly at heart, and whose aim and object moreover would be to see that the R.S.P.C.A. once more takes its place as the grandest pioneer ,Society in the world, ready to form and lead public opinion in all humane matters and secure the necessary reforms.—I am, Sir, &c., ANNE CORY. 28 Belgrave Square, S.W. 1.
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