§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel MEYLERasked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to prevent the carrying out in this country of steer-roping contests, which the disapproval of the cruelty to the animals concerned expressed by eye witnesses on Saturday last has not allowed to be continued in public?
Mr. HENDERSONI understand that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have instituted proceedings in respect of the performance on Saturday. Other cases of alleged cruelty have since occurred, and further summonses are being applied for by the police in respect of those cases. I have no power to prohibit such contests, but I am representing strongly to the responsible authorities that the steer roping should be suspended, at any rate until the summonses have been disposed of.
§ Lady TERRINGTONIn view of the seriousness of the injuries that are happening to these animals, of which I have daily evidence, I should like to move the Adjournment of the House and have the matter settled at once.
§ Captain Viscount CURZONHow many more of these animals are to be killed and how many more horns are to be torn off before something is done by the management?
Mr. HENDERSONI have already informed the House that I have no power to stop these exhibitions, but I am doing the next best thing. I have instructed 2295 the police to take out summonses, and I have appealed to the authorities to have them suspended until the summonses have been disposed of.
§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether there is any possibility of any steps being taken in the High Court in this connection?
Mr. HENDERSONThe hon. Member may rest assured that I have been in constant consultation, and that I would not have made the statement I have made as to powers, unless I had been in consultation.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MEYLERIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps with the people who are making money out of this cruelty?
§ Lady TERRINGTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the authorities are not allowing the police to see these things, and that they ought to be stopped?
Mr. HENDERSONThe statement tint the authorities are preventing the police from being present is not accurate. The police have been present, and I have within the last half-hour seen the reports of proceedings yesterday and to-day made by the police.
§ 18. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary whether he has any further information with regard to acts of alleged cruelty in the performances known as the Rodeo at the British Empire Exhibition: how many police have attended or will attend the private performances of steer-roping; whether a police veterinary surgeon will attend or has attended; and whether he is in touch with the officials of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the matter?
Mr. HENDERSONSummonses have been taken out by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in respect of the first public exhibition of steer-roping. As regards the contests being held privately, arrangements have been made for the attendance of suitable police officers, but the attendance of a 2296 veterinary surgeon on behalf of the Commissioner is not thought necessary. The police are constantly in touch with the society in respect of cases of suspected cruelty to animals.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that there are private performances at which the police are not present?
Mr. HENDERSONI thought that I said before that the police have been present at every performance, and I have had submitted to me within the last half-hour their reports on what took place yesterday and to-day.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhat is the nature of these reports? Are the police satisfied?
Mr. HENDERSONThey are so dissatisfied that they have put it up to me, and I have approved of their applying for summonses.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYIn that case has not my right hon. Friend got some powers to have this business stopped and not to have animals killed every day, while waiting for the machinery of the law to be put in motion?
Mr. HENDERSONI have already informed the House that I have no power. In view of what happened yesterday and what has been reported this morning, if I had the power I would have taken steps to bring this exhibition to a close.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDo I understand that if a police officer sees an animal being misused he has no power to prevent that being done? Are not costermongers and others pulled up every day for ill-using animals?
§ Lady TERRINGTONBy the time that these summonses are heard will it not be too late to stop this display? As these people were brought aver under the auspices of the British Government, surely this can be stopped.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MEYLERSeeing that the Government have no power to stop these things, will legislation be introduced to prevent this cruelty occurring in future?