§ 60. Lieut.-Colonel MOOREasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of two youths of 18 and 17years of age, who were convicted at Farnham of cruelty to two swans on the Basingstoke canal by pelting them with bricks until they were exhausted and maimed; whether he is aware that, on being charged, the youths stated that even if they had killed the swans they could have paid for them; and whether he will amend the law so as to ensure the infliction of punishment which will act as a more effective deterrent to such brutality than either imprisonment or fines?
§ Sir J. GILMOURWhile I fully sympathise with my hon. and gallant Friend's desire that effective action shall be taken to prevent conduct of this kind I do not think that the case affords ground for an amendment of the existing law.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOOREHas the right hon. Gentleman in mind any means or methods by which such brutes as these can be brought to experience something of the pain which they inflict