HC Deb 06 October 1909 vol 11 cc1989-90
Sir ROBERT HOBART

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that under the New Forest Deer Removal Act, 1851, 14 and 15 Vic, c. 76, s. 9, the Crown may grant licences to sport in the New Forest, and that such licences have been granted for many years to packs of fox-hounds, deer-hounds, otter-hounds, hare-hounds, and basset-hounds; whether he was aware that the licence to hare-hounds had recently been withdrawn by the Crown authorities; and whether he would arrange with His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests to renew or regrant the licence to the hare-hounds?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The Commissioner of Woods has been in the habit for many years past of giving leave for hunting in the New Forest by various packs of hounds, including hare-hounds. This year he has felt compelled, in the interests of the Forest as a whole, to refuse leave for hunting by a certain pack of hare-hounds, and I can hold out no prospect of his decision being reconsidered.

Sir ROBERT HOBART

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a Petition signed by 448 persons, representing the trade of Lyndhurst, also the followers and puppy walkers, of the hare-hounds, requesting that permission for these hounds to hunt in the New Forest for the past 40 years, which is now withdrawn, may be granted to hunt the hare in the Forest on the same terms as other New Forest packs?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

It is true that I received this petition, but like many other petitions a good many of the signatures appear to be in the same handwriting.

Sir R. HOBART

I verified most of the signatures. I knew the handwriting of the persons.

Mr. E. H. CARLILE

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the grounds for the refusal?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

Yes, Sir, the real fact of the matter is there seems to have been a personal quarrel between some people in the New Forest. The inhabitants of the New Forest are mostly Unemployed. Their principal occupation appears to be to get up disputes with each other—some of a rather serious nature, and this happens to be one of these cases.