§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD LAMBOURNEMy Lords, this is a very small Bill, consisting of one clause. It is an amendment of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, and as the clause was drafted by the Home Office I hope your Lordships will app cove of it. The object of the Bill is to alter the law so as to ensure that no rabbit coursing shall take place, except in circumstances where the animals are given a reasonable chance of escape The unfortunate rabbit has very little chance in a fenced-in place, but the Bill will give it a. "reasonable chance of escape." I might add that the Bill was brought in because of a. decision in the Courts, where it was held that. a rabbit coursing meeting which took place in a field closely fenced all round with barbed wire and wire netting was no offence against the Act of 1911, notwithstanding that the rabbits had no chance of escape. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Lambourne.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2ª, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.