HC Deb 22 March 1843 vol 67 cc1286-8

Mr. East moved the further consideration of the report on the Dogs Bill.

Mr. D. Barclay

objected to the measure as partial in its operation and most oppressive to the poor, and moved that the report be further considered on that day six months.

Mr. Ewart

believed that all bills affecting trade should originate in a committee of the whole House. As that necessary rule had not been complied with in the present case, he suggested that the bill could not proceed.

The Speaker

said that this measure was not one of that nature contemplated by the rule which required bills affecting trade to be founded upon a resolution in committee of the whole House.

Lord A. Lennox

opposed the amendment and stated that it was by no means an unfrequent occurrence for dogs to be driven forty or fifty miles a day, in the county of Sussex. The noble Lord referred to the evidence of Mr. Sewell, given before a committee of the House in 1838, to show that the hard working of dogs led to hydrophobia.

Mr. Hume

opposed the motion and supported the amendment. The decision of a committee on the subject of cruelty to animals had reference to the use of dogs in crowded streets. There was an act against cruelty to animals, and dogs were included in that act. Was it because here and there two or three persons might abuse the trust which was reposed in them, with respect to these brute animals, that therefore it was necessary to legislate for the protection of dogs? He recollected that since he had been in Parliament a bill was brought in to abolish the use of pewter pots, because so many of them had been stolen; why, the Legislature might as well have passed an act to abolish the use of silver plate; and it was on that ground that the bill was thrown out. Now he was as anxious as any man could be to prevent the exercise of cruelty to animals; but, at the same time, he wished to protect the interests of those whose very livelihood might depend on the labour of dogs. Look at the use of dogs in Kamschatka. The hon. Member for Oldham, he was sorry to observe, was not then present; but he had on a former occasion stated the fact that whole troops of dogs were engaged or employed in smuggling goods between the frontiers of Belgium and France. He had received a letter from a gentleman who had heard that it was in contemplation to put down the use of dogs as beasts of burthen or draught; and on the subject of cruelty to animals, this party referred to a case of the then Duke of Richmond's hounds following a stag with its leg broken for one hour and a half. Now, if the Legislature would bring in a bill to pre- vent men from being yoked together to draw carts, he should say that something good might be done, and he would gladly second such a motion, and in such case the hon. Member might carry out the law against cruelty to animals. He hoped the House would not allow this measure to go on, or that at least they would defer its further progress till after Easter.

.Sir R. Inglis

did not think that any argument had been adduced sufficiently strong to induce the House to adopt the amendment proposed by the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Barclay). He begged to tender his best thanks to the noble Lord the Member for Chichester (Lord Arthur Lennox) for the part he had taken in reference to this bill. The objection to the use of dogs drawing burthens in the crowded streets of the metropolis was equally applicable to narrow and crowded streets of country towns.

Sir G. Staunton

trusted, that the bill would pass without alteration. The statement of the noble Lord relative to the employment of dogs in Sussex was perfectly accurate, and as the House had already sanctioned the principle of the measure, he hoped it would pass.

The House divided on the question that the word "now" stand part of the question. Ayes 100; Noes 54:—Majority 46.

List of the AYES.
Acland, Sir T. Duncombe, T.
A'Court, Capt. Duncombe, hon. O.
Acton, Col. Egerton, W. T.
Adare, Visct. Emlyn, Visct.
Adderly, C. B. Estcourt, T. G. B.
Antrobus, E. Fielden, J.
Arkwright, G. Ferrand, W. B.
Ashley, Lord Ferrand, W. B.
Astell, W. Fitzroy, hon. H.
Baring, rt. hon. F.T. Flower, Sir J
Barnard, E. G. Fremantle, Sir T.
Borthwick, P. Fuller, A. E.
Broadley, H. Gaskell, J. Milnes
Brotherton, J. Gladstone, rt. hn. W.E.
Bruce, Lord E. Gordon, hon. Capt.
Buckley, E. Gore, M.
Butler, hon. Col. Greene, T.
Byng, G. Grimston, Visct.
Byng, rt. hon. G.S. Hamilton, W. J.
Cardwell, E. Hardy, J.
Chelsea, Visct. Hindley, C.
Christopher, R. A. Hodgson, F.
Chute, W. L. W. Hodgson, R.
Clayton, R. R. Hogg, J. W.
Cripps, W. Hope, hon. C.
Denison, E. B. Houldsworth, T.
Dickinson, F. H. Howard, Lord
Douglas, Sir H. Hughes, W. B.
Douglas, Sir C.E. Humphery, Ald,
Hussey, T. Repton, G. W. J.
Inglis, Sir R. H. Rice, E. R.
Lambton, H. Round, C. G.
Law, hon. C. E. Rushbrooke, Col.
Legh, G. C. Shirley, E. P.
Mackinnon, W. A. Smith, A.
Mahon, Visct. Somerset, Lord G.
Mainwaring, T. Sotheron, T. H. S.
Marjoribanks, S. Stanley, E.
Miles, P. W. S. Stuart, Lord J.
Morgan, O. Thornhill, G.
Mundy, E. M. Tollemache, J.
Neeld, J. Trollope, Sir J.
Nicholl, rt. hon. J. Trotter, J.
Ogle, S. C. H. Wodehouse, E.
Paget, Col. Wood, B.
Palmer, R. Wood, G. W.
Peel, J. Worsley, Lord
Plumridge, Capt. Wyndham, Col. C.
Powell, Col.
Praed, W. T. TELLERS.
Protheroe, E. Lennox, Lord A.
Pusey, P. Staunton, Sir G.
List of the NOES.
Aglionby, H. A. Hutt, W.
Ainsworth, P. Ker, D. S.
Arbuthnott, hon. H. Knatchbull, rt. hn. Sir E.
Bailey, J. Jun. Labouchere, rt. hn. H.
Baring, H. B. Mangles, R. D.
Bernal, R. Mildmay, H. St. J.
Brownrigg, J. S. Mitchell, T. A.
Buller, C. Muntz, G. F.
Clay, Sir W. O'Brien, A. S.
Cochrane, A. Ord, W.
Colebrooke, Sir T. E. Pakington, J. S.
Dawson, hon. T. V. Pulsford, R.
Denison, W. J. Ross, D.R.
Dennistoun, J. Russell, Lord J.
Disraeli, B. Scott, R.
Divett, E. Smythe, hon. G.
Duncan, Visct. Stansfield, W. R. C.
Duncan, G. Tancred, H. W.
Elphinstone, H. Thornely, T.
Ewart, W. Vane, Lord H.
Gibson, T. M. Wall, C.B.
Gore, hon. R. Walsh, Sir J.B.
Grey, rt. hon. Sir G. Walter, J.
Hallyburton, Lord J. F. G. Wawn, J.T.
Wood, C.
Hastie, A. Wrightson, W.B.
Hawes, B. TELLERS.
Henley, J. W. Hume, J.
Herbert, hon. S. Barclay, D.

Report received and agreed to.

On the motion that the bill be read a third time on the following day.

Mr. Hume moved as an amendment that the bill be read a third time on April 24th.

The House again divided on the question that the words "to-morrow" stand part of the question. Ayes 97; Noes 46:—Majority 51.

[We publish the List on the first division only.]