§ SIR GEORGE DOUGLASasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in consequence of the large increase within the last ten years in the number of dogs in Great Britain, and the great injury and loss occasioned by ownerless dogs wandering about the country, as proved by Returns Nos. 308 and 309, recently presented to the House, showing the destruction of upwards of 2,000 sheep, by dogs, within the last three years, in the southern counties of Scotland, he will take into consideration what means can be adopted for the purpose of affording greater protection to farmers from disturbance and injury to their sheep and other stock by stray dogs?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he had not overlooked these Returns. He very much regretted the loss which had occurred in the manner described; but at the present moment he could not see his way to further legislation on the subject, although he should be glad to receive any communication from the hon. Member in regard to it. 390 Meanwhile, he suggested it would be extremely interesting if local authorities would furnish him with anything like a Return showing the number of dogs on which the tax was paid, as distinguished from the number that were not taxed. He believed it would be found that there were a large number on which the tax had not been paid. He might remind the hon. Member that two acts of Parliament were already in existence, one relating to England, and the other to Scotland alone. A great deal might be done under those Acts, and the local authorities might well be called upon to act under them.