§ MR. BUCHANANI beg to ask the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that, at the rabbit coursing meeting held at the Big Meadow, near Dover, on Wednesday, 12th February, dogs were used unmuzzled, and were taken to and from that and other rabbit coursing-meetings unmuzzled, notwithstanding the existence of the Muzzling Order in the County of Kent; and whether such dogs so used are held by the Board of Agriculture to come under the exception in the Order as "dogs used for sporting-purposes?
MR. H. T. KNATOHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether there has been a single ease of rabies within 40 miles of Dover during the last two years?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI must ask the hon. Member to give notice of his question. With regard to the question on the Paper we have no information on the subject, and I have no knowledge of the facts referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question. With regard to the second part, I apprehend that dogs used for coursing would be held to be "dogs used for sporting purposes" within the meaning of the Order.
§ MR. BUCHANANDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider rabbit coursing 1136 to come under the description of sporting purposes?
§ * MR. CHAPLINI have tried a good many sports in the course of my career, but I do not remember to have ever tried rabbit coursing. In fact, I cannot claim to be an authority, nor am I competent to express an opinion with regard to a, question on which the hon. Member is probably a better judge than myself.