§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to frequent cases of sheep-worrying by vagrant dogs during the present lambing season in Northamptonshire, causing serious losses to farmers, and to the insufficiency for existing means of checking this evil; and whether steps will be taken to secure the passing of the Dogs Bill as promptly as possible.
§ * MR. J. A. PEASE (for Sir EDWARD STRACHEY)The Board of Agriculture have made inquiry into the serious cases of sheep-worrying in Northamptonshire to which my hon. friend refers. It appears that between February 2nd and 20th thirty-one sheep were killed outright and forty-two others were so badly bitten that they have since died or had to be killed. There is no doubt that further powers are needed to deal with the evil, and it is hoped that the Bill which has been already introduced on the subject will be considered at an early date.
MR. CATHCART WASONHas the hon. Gentleman any proof whatever that these sheep were worried by vagrant dogs and not by pet dogs?
§ * MR. J. A. PEASEI must ask for notice.