§ MR. G. GREENWOOD (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an incident which occurred on 3rd November last near Uckfield, when a carted deer hunted by the Surrey staghounds, being dead-beat, and with one of its forelegs hanging from the fetlock, broken in an attempt to jump a fence, was worried by the hounds while vainly trying to limp away until the huntsman came up and killed it with a knife; whether he is aware that on 6th November last another carted deer, hunted by the Berks and Bucks stag-hounds, broke its neck in the course of the run in leaping into a lane; and whether, in view of the fact that such incidents are of frequent occurrence, and are inevitable when the sport is pursued under such conditions as prevail in the home counties, he will consider the desirability of so amending the Acts for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animls that such cases may be brought within their operation.
§ MR. GLADSTONEMy attention was not drawn to these particular incidents. I have stated before, in answer to a Question, that I think the hunting of carted deer is open to strong objection, but I regret I am not in a position to make any promise of legislation.
§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a private Member's Bill before the House which the Government could, by consent, press through?
§ MR. GLADSTONEYes, I am quite aware of that, and the Bill can be brought in again next session.