To the Editor of the "Nontn-Cntwa Dany News"
Sin—Some time has now elapsed since the Tungchow piracy and would be of interest to many of us fo know if anything constructive has emanated from 1 various councils and Naval investigations?
Tt is to be hoped that the matter is not being allowed to drop into oblivion or until it becomes. a precedent upon which to base the next piracy inquiry.
As a seafarer I am still convinced that some of these episodes were] engineered from the inside. Tt is obvious that most of the participators fare also of the sea, having a. know-Tedge of the China cost, its ships and the methods obtaining thereon, Basing upon the foregoing as a possibility, and seeing there is now a Sino-British Navel arrangement to endeavour to extirpate those pests, would it not be wise to ask' the Chinese authorities to seek the assistance of the various unions for an examination of the membership lists and for the photographs of those who may be suspect? This is not meant as in any way casting a reflection tupan the general membership of those unions, there are good and bad amongst us all and with, T feel sure, the good predominating it is to thei: Interest to have a weeding out of the undesirables—should there be such within' their _membership—who have shown that the lives of others are nothing compared to the seizure of oot for themselves" and: their own evil purposes.
This, of course, does not apply to [crutity committed by persons subject to extraterritorial jurisdiction, as. in nearly all cases erualty (o animals can be punished under the laws of the nationality of the party concerned, In such cases detailed information given to the police as soon as possible and to the Society would be the most effective means of taking action by a member of the public.
'Where a non-extraterritorial case of cruelty Is observed, the only thing that can be done' is to ascertain whether the offender can be punished lurider any licence condition, such as that "of a pony-carriage, or livery. stable, or market stall licence condition, ete, ete.
Wheelbarrow licences, og, it should be noted, provide that all live stock, should be carried in a humane man When, therefore, witnessing a breach of a punishable licence con-_ dition, the proper course to adopt is to call the nearest policeman and point out the offence to him, at the same time making a full note of the circumstances and either also report the offence to the Police Station concerned in person, or by telephone 10} the Sergeant on Duty explaining who you are and what has happened: any. person taking upon himself to act in this way must be prepared, if neces~ sary, to go to Court when called upon to give the necessary evidence. The, /Society naturally cannot advocate Person taking the law into his own} hands in any instance, but peaceful persuasion and reasoning with the offender can often alleviate obvious pain and suffering of any animals found in a distressed condition. cases of known continuing. cruelty, members of the public should either, communicate with the police direct or ring up the Inspector or Secretary of the SSP.CA.
D. Pruxw.
Shanghai, Mar. 5.
Secretary, SSPCA
's*ecomment on front page.
Shanghai, Mar. 10.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.