The origin of the Shanghai Society was shrouded in mystery, but it was kown to have been formed some 30 years ago, when it was possible for the Shanghai Municipal Council to formulate a number of humane clauses which were added to the conditions of. licences for markets, vehicles, etc, These conditions were enforced by the Mixed Court, and the fines inflicted by the Society With the rendition of the Mixed Courts, it became increasingly difficult to have cruelty to animals ade-ately punished.
It was in 1932 that the Society awoke once more into an active ex istence. The demolition of Chapei in that year inflicted terrible suffering upon thousands of animals who were abandoned, starving and med, The need for an active S.P.C.A. became evi By 1933, the re organization of the Society had considerably progressed. Since 1932, the membt of the Society had risen 20 to around 809. In the last lour years, the Shanghai Society had ets, Become one of the most active of Such bodies to be found anywhere in ad the world, The society was international and open to all, and at least 15 nationalities were' represented among its members, The object of the society was to further the humane treatment of animals in China, and Shanghai in particular, by education, persuaon, the advancement of legislation ud' the relief of animal suffering wherever possible. The efforts of the society were necessarily limited, as frere was little legislation to which they could appeal. It had therefore tu rely on persuasion and the education of public opinion.
There were three separate authorities governing this city, and they rust remember that a great deal of preventable suffering could only be alleviated by the sympathetic action of these authorities. Al three had it: recent years carried out a numb provements, Certain improve ments were influenced, he believed. by the generally awakening interest in animal welfare for which the Society could certainly claim its share of credit,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.