§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the alleged cruelties at so-called "rabbit coursing" matches in enclosed spaces, as set forth in correspondence in The Standard of the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd instant; and, whether it has been held that such practices do not come within the Cruelty to Animals Act; and, if so, whether the Government will take steps to amend the Law so as to prevent the continuance of such coursing?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; I have read the newspaper correspondence to which the hon. Member has referred. A decision of the Court of Queen's Bench certainly appears to show that the facts, as alleged, are not an infringement of the Statute for the prevention of cruelty to animals. It is a matter for consideration whether the law can be amended. Meanwhile, I hope that public opinion will be strong enough to check practices which cannot, by any stretch of language, be considered "sport."