§ Mr. HOLTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he was aware that persons farming small holdings of less than fifty acres, and also carrying on other occupations, were being summoned before the magistrates at Hexham in order that they might be deprived of the exemption from the. Dog Licence, mainly on the ground that they were not farmers; and whether, in view of the hardship imposed on these men by attendance at court, often from a distance of over ten miles, he proposed to take any action to secure that an exemption from Dog Licence should be granted to persons bonâ fide using a dog for looking after sheep and cattle without their being brought to court unless absolutely necessary?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYNo, Sir, but I shall be glad to make inquiry if my hon. Friend will supply me with any information which he may have received. The rules made under Section 5 of the Dogs Act of 1906 provide that the appearance of an applicant for exemption shall be dispensed with except in cases where the application is opposed and the Court considers his appearance to be necessary for the proper consideration of the application.