MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the hon. Member for South 1064 Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that the words in the Dogs Bill, requiring that the consent of the Petty Sessions Court in England and the Sheriff in Scotland must be obtained before a certificate will be given to persons such as farmers, crofters, and shepherds, who have long enjoyed exemption on the ground that dogs were a necessity of their lives, will affect such persons prejudicially; and whether he will introduce Amendments to continue the exemption these persons have hitherto enjoyed.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)In pursuance of Section 22 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1878, a certificate of exemption from licence duty can be obtained by farmers or shepherds for dogs kept and used solely for the purpose of tending sheep or cattle on a farm or in the exercise of the calling or occupation of a shepherd. This enactment will still remain in force. It is not proposed to alter in any way the grounds on which exemption is granted, but only to provide a more efficient and Convenient means of deciding doubtful cases No personal appearance before the Court will be necessary except in opposed cases, and then only if the Court considers such appearance to be necessary for the proper consideration of the application.