§ MR. H. C. RICHARDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the increase of rallies in London and the country, the Government, in the interest of and protection for the public will consider the advisability of adopting the system prevailing in France, Germany, and other continental countries of enforcing the muzzling order all the year round, more especially as a new humane muzzle has been invented which affords a dog the same freedom and comfort as though it were practically unmuzzled?
* MR. LONGI am happy to say that the number of cases of rabies reported during the present year shows a distinct 483 improvement as compared with the corresponding period of 1895, but the disease is still at a much higher point than it has ever been since it was first brought within the scope of the Diseases of Animals Acts, and I am afraid that it will give us much cause for anxiety for some time to come. In these circumstances it must be very doubtful whether the existing system under which the imposition of muzzling regulations is practically left to the local authorities is at all a satisfactory one, and I shall be glad to keep the suggestion of my hon. Friend in view, and to give it full consideration when I receive the report of the Departmental Committee, which is now taking evidence as to the working of the dog laws generally.