§ MR. COBBI beg to ask the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the proceedings of numerous meetings of Chambers of Agriculture, Farmers' Clubs, and other bodies, which have recently been held to take into consideration the best means of carrying on fox-hunting; and, whether he proposes to take any steps in the interest of tenant farmers and agriculturists generally, either by making suggestions to masters of hounds, or by promoting a conference in London of those interested in the subject, to assist fox-hunting, by making it more beneficial to agriculture, and by settling the following among other 438 questions: as to obliging fox-hunters by means of a general subscription to the hunt to pay for their sport as other people pay for other sports; as to requiring the payment of some increased subscription from horse dealers and others who use hunting is a means of livelihood; as to offering greater facilities to hunting men of purchasing their horses and forage direct from tenant farmers, instead of from middlemen, either by establishing a register, or by some other means; as to forming committees of agriculturists to confer with hunt committees, and appointing field stewards to check reckless riding, and wanton damage to fences, crops, and stock?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford)The hon. Member has put on the paper no less than six questions as to the best mode of carrying on fox-hunting in the future. I presume he addresses them to me rather in the character of an ex-master of foxhounds than in that of the President of the Board of Agriculture, for although I have referred again to the Act, and although the subject is one which is thoroughly congenial to me, it appears that, owing to an unfortunate omission on the part of Her Majesty's Government, the charge of fox-hunting interests was not included in the list of duties which were relegated to that Department at the time of the passing of the Act. At the same time the courtesy which is due to the hon. Member would induce me to offer the best reply that I can. The only meeting of the character to which he refers in his questions of which any report has reached me was a meeting, I understand, between representatives of the Warwickshire Chamber of Agriculture on the one hand and some gentlemen representing the South Warwickshire on the subject of barbed wire fencing being used in that county—a most pernicious practice, in my humble opinion, which often inflicts much suffering on horses as well as on hounds, which is frequently attended with serious danger to the limbs and even the lives of human beings, and which, if it became general, must be absolutely destructive of hunting in this counts, altogether. But from what I know my- 439 self of Warwickshire farmers, and, until I am assured to the contrary, I shall decline to believe that an amicable understanding will not quickly be come to which will be satisfactory to all parties who are concerned. I am afraid of detaining the House, but the hon. Member goes on to ask whether I propose, by making suggestions to masters of hounds or by a conference in London, to promote any one or all of the following objects:—First, to make a subscription compulsory on every one who goes out hunting; secondly, to require an increased subscription from dealers and others who make a livelihood from it; thirdly, to offer facilities for the purchase of horses and forage direct from farmers rather than middlemen; and fourthly, to check wanton damage to fences, to crops, and to stock. As to the last point that is a matter which can be far more effectually dealt with by the master than by any one else, and with regard to the others, I do not propose to take any action of the kind he suggests. First, because I should regard it as outside of the province of this Department; and secondly, because I am of opinion that matters of this kind are far better left to the good sense and the good feeling of the parties concerned.