§ (Colonel Dawnay, Sir John Lubbock, Lord Elcho, Mr. Dillwyn, Sir Albert Rollit, Mr. Beach, Mr. Staveley Hill.)
§ [BILL 4.] SECOND READING.
§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Colonel Dawnay.)
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)This question about hares and rabbits is one which it is not possible to discuss at the end of a Wednesday Sitting.
§ COLONEL DAWNAY (York, N. R., Thirsk)I rise to Order. The Bill does not include rabbits.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWell, I will give the hon. and gallant Gentleman the benefit of the rabbits; but, as it deals with the important question of hares, I would say it is undesirable that a measure of this character should be dealt with at this hour of the evening. I am sure that the hon. and gallant Gentleman, knowing all he does about hares, will feel that a question so important as this could not be adequately discussed in two or three minutes. Now, hares may be looked at from various points of view. Of course, you can course hares; but, in my opinion, the best way to treat a Bill respecting hares is to prevent it from passing, and on this ground, that we have always found Gentlemen connected with the landed Party in England anxious to prevent poor people from having those advantages which they ought to have by nature, but are prevented by law from possessing. The state of the Game Laws is already in a sufficiently involved and complicated position without the addition to the long list of Statutes of fresh Acts of Parliament on this very complicated and difficult subject. I must, therefore, complain of the hon. and gallant Gentleman for imposing a trivial question like this upon our minds, when our minds are occupied with greater subjects. I think we should come with calmness to discuss the question of hares. 929 I think a clay like this should be sacred from any sporting subject.
§ It being a quarter of an hour before Six of the clock, the Debate stood adjourned till To-morrow.