§ LORD O'HAGAN had the following Notice on the Paper:—To call the attention of His Majesty's Government to the proposal to hold a rodeo in this country. In view of the character of that previously held and the cruelty involved to the animals concerned, to move to resolve: That it is desirable that no rodeo should be permitted in this country; and to ask whether His Majesty's Government propose to take steps to secure that end.
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, I do not apologise to the House for bringing 531 this matter before it to-night, because we have it on good authority that it is intended to hold in this country this summer another rodeo such as was held in 1924. When it was proposed in that year to hold such a rodeo a debate was initiated in this House with the object of seeing whether it would not be possible to prevent any form of cruelty being practised during such performances. On that occasion there were very few in this country who knew what these performances implied. There had been, I think, practically no previous experience of them here, and as the Lord President of the Council said on that occasion, the problem for the House was whether there was cruelty in such performances. He went on to say that it ought to be decided whether there was cruelty or not. I venture to say that the experience of 1924, not merely at Wembley but in other parts of the country, would leave little doubt that there was a very great deal of cruelty in those performances.
§ To deal first with the most conspicuous item of those performances, that of steer roping, in that case I think nobody can question that there was a considerable number of cases of cruelty. For example, on June 17 one steer's leg was broken, and on the same day, after a private performance three steers were found in the shed, two very lame and one with the left horn broken off. On the 18th one steer's neck was broken, two steers were very lame, and eight steers were bleeding from the nostrils. On the 19th, one steer's neck was broken, one steer's right horn was broken, one steer's left ear was lacerated, bleeding freely, and two steers were very lame. Take again the case of steer wrestling and bulldogging as it is called. In that case there was a considerable amount of pain and suffering caused to these animals. With my own eyes I saw on one occasion at Wembley one steer which had its horn broken off and another which went bellowing across the arena with one horn hanging down and flopping about. As a matter of fact, out of some 25 steers that went through this performance 13 were injured, the injuries ranging from laceration of the nose up to broken necks.
§ I come to another item, that of steer riding. In order to illustrate the riding qualities of those who ride these steers 532 it was necessary to make the animals buck. The steers were supposed to be wild animals, and they placed a cinch round them in order that, in the effort to get away from the unpleasant pain caused by that cinch, they might buck with great violence. When these cinches were removed, as in the case of the buck-jumping horses, the animals in some cases became quiet. We were told in connection with that rodeo that wild steers would be employed, and it is curious to notice that those who witnessed the arrival of those steers at Avonmouth could see very little difference in their attitude and behaviour from that of ordinary steers brought into the country. I believe that 149 of those steers were subsequently bought and went clown to Kent, and those who had the handling of them reported that they were rather more quiet than other steers in the fields at the same time.
§ In putting down this Motion on the Paper I do not wish for one moment to question the intentions of those who actually took part in the rodeo on that occasion. Lord Denman was among those who spoke in the debate in 1924. It was not a question, as he imagined, of accusing these people of cruelty, but such rodeos cannot be held without entailing suffering on these animals in one way or another. We can rightly praise and admire the courage and skill with which cowboys and the women engaged in the performances managed to survive the bucking and buffeting to which they were subjected, but that does not to my mind justify the holding in this country of such exhibitions.
§ It was said on that occasion, when the rodeo was held under the ægis of the British Empire Exhibition, that those responsible for it had previously been satisfied that what was to occur would be consistent with the spirit of sportsmanship and would not involve cruelty, that, in short, the exhibition would be typical of what was going on on cattle ranges in different parts of the Empire, and in America; but from what one can understand of what goes on in those parts, though I cannot pretend to have seen it myself, it seems obvious that the conditions under which such exhibitions may take place in America or here are artificial conditions, not a real representation of a cattle round-up on the ranches. In fact, humane 533 societies in America have made efforts to secure the regulation of the rodeos to prevent cruelty, though their real object has been, as it has been with some of our societies here, to prevent these rodeos being held at all, because cruelty seems inevitably involved. In fact, one American described the rodeos in this way. The rodeos, he said, are a purely artificial sport devised to satisfy jaded appetites for spectacle. They serve, he says, no good purpose and they are not typical of any authentic frontier life.
§ It seems to me the question is to-day whether it is really desirable to hold rodeos here at all, and I should like to recall to your Lordships that it was as the result of publicly-expressed indignation at the Wembley Exhibition itself that one feature of the rodeo performance was taken out of the programme, that of steer roping. Such indignation was caused by this exhibition among the people round the ring that after a very few days that part of the programme was cut out, though it had been included in the general programme, and that item of the programme had been previously allowed to be included on the assurances of those who were responsible for the holding of that rodeo. This year, it is reported, it is proposed to have steer-wrestling and bull-dogging, bare-back broneo riding and steer riding. I think that we have no guarantee that what was experienced in 1924 will not be experienced again if rodeos are held in this country to-day.
§ I have only quoted for the sake of brevity the cases of cruelty in connection with one particular rodeo, but there were some very revolting cases that came before the Courts, and penalties were inflicted, in other parts of the country, and the scenes were sufficiently bad to disgust at any rate a very large portion of the people who saw them at the holding of such shows as these. I think what I have said, that cruelty is inherent in the holding of rodeos, has been shown to be true. If, however, it were possible to avoid such cruelty as I have described, then I think one might withdraw one's objection to the holding of such performances. But if that is not the case, then what other step is left to us than to ask for the prevention of the holding of such exhibitions? I am told that the holding of rodeos of necessity must involve steer riding and steer wrestling and bull-dogging. You are told 534 that is of the essence of what is called rodeo. If that is the case it will be very difficult for us to check the amount of cruelty which was experienced in 1924. I believe, as the law stands, there are considerable difficulties in the way of the Government taking what some of us would consider adequate steps to prevent the holding of rodeos, but if that is the case—and I hope the answer of my noble friend will not confirm me in that—then I would appeal to the Government to give facilities for the Bill that has been moved in the House of Commons recently. It is down for Second Reading very shortly now. In that Bill powers are taken to stop the holding of rodeos in this country.
§ I would conclude as briefly as I can by appealing to His Majesty's Government to take all the steps they can to prevent the holding of these rodeos. If it is a fact, as we are assured, that such parts of the programme as I have indicated are a necessary part of such performances, the experience of the country of 1924 I think justifies me in saying that cruelty is inevitable if those parts of the programme are carried through. I will not go into other aspects of the ease. I will not enlarge upon the inevitable effect on the minds of the numerous children who naturally would attend exhibitions of this nature. I will not elaborate whether that is a, good thing or a bad thing, but I will leave it to the good sense of the House to see what a deleterious effect the holding of such exhibitions might have on the young people of to-day. With this, I am afraid very inadequate, statement, in view of the hour, I beg to move the Motion that stands in my name.
§ Moved to resolve, That it is desirable that no rodeo should be permitted in this country.—(Lord O'Hagan.)
§ LORD MARLEYMy Lords, on behalf of the Socialist Opposition in your Lordships' House I desire to say that we give full support to the Motion on the Order Paper.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMy Lords, may I add one word in support of the noble Lord's Motion? I will not take up your Lordships' time. I beg the Government, if they say that they have no powers as the law stands, that then they will give facilities for the Bill which I understand has been introduced in another place. There have been similar 535 matters before your Lordships' House involving cruelty to animals, such as the Plumage Act. When such matters come forward there are always found representatives of the interested trade ready to get up and make a case why, on the ground of employment and other reasons, legislation should not be introduced. The noble Lord has stated his opinion with great moderation and complete conviction. I do not believe that any representative of any trade could be found willing to defend such an exhibition as the noble Lord has described. If that is so, it means that the Bill which has been introduced in another place will be a noncontroversial Bill and your Lordships know that. such a measure can be passed without much loss of Parliamentary time. I do beg the Government to give favourable consideration to the necessary passage of legislation, if such is necessary.
THE EARL OF FEVERSHAMMy Lords, I expect your Lordships' House, and in particular the noble Lord who has moved this Motion, will not expect me, in replying on behalf of the Government, to take up the time of your Lordships by enumerating the various difficulties which this subject raises. I will deal only with one of the chief factors. This matter first came to the notice of the Department I represent in February last when a communication was received from a firm of solicitors in London intimating that the National Sporting Club, Limited, of London, in conjunction with Mr. Tex Austin, was desirous of promoting rodeo exhibition in London in June, July and August of this year, and for that purpose permission was asked for some 120 American cowboys to be allowed to land in this country. The action then taken was that the firm of solicitors was informed that application should be made to the Minister of Labour for permits under the Aliens Order, 1920, for each of the American cowboys whose services would be required at the rodeo.
There is at present no Act of Parliament in existence which will restrict or prevent such performances being carried on in this country, but, as the noble Lord has already intimated, on Friday next a Bill is coming before another place to be discussed. The law, however, does provide a remedy in the event of cruelty occurring in the course of any 536 performance. I think it would be well at this juncture to mention the chief clauses of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, which makes it an offence to torture, infuriate or terrify any animal or to cause, procure or assist at the fighting or baiting of any animal, to keep, use, manage or act or assist in the management of any premises or place for such purpose, to permit any premises or place to be so kept, managed or used, or to receive or cause or procure any person to receive money for the admission of any person to such premises or place. Your Lordships, therefore, will observe that while it is considered not a proper exercise of the statutory powers under the Aliens Order to prevent aliens coming into this country merely because they are going to take part in a certain performance, nevertheless, if that performance contravenes either the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, or the Performing Animals Act, 1925, action can be taken. I would remind the noble Lord that when rodeo performances were given in 1924 at the British Empire Exhibition, a case was brought forward by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and that, in spite of the prosecution and the cruelty to which the noble Lord has referred, the Bench dismissed the case.
Loan O'HAGANMay I interrupt to remind the noble Earl that the decision was come to by a majority of six to five?
THE EARL OF FEVERSHAMThere were other cases in the provinces, but I believe I am correct in saying that in the London case the prosecution was not successful. As I previously indicated, the proposal of which His Majesty's Government have knowledge would involve the employment for the purposes of the performance of a large number of aliens. The Home Secretary and the Minister of Labour have given the most careful consideration to the question whether such aliens should be allowed to enter this country for this purpose. They have reached the conclusion that it would not be a proper exercise of the statutory powers under the Aliens Order to exclude aliens from this country merely because the object of their visit is to take part in a rodeo performance. It was stated on behalf of the Home Secretary in the House of Commons on March 5 that if any sufficient reason 537 should arise during the presence of alien participants in the rodeo the Home Secretary would be free to require the promoters to remove the aliens, either wholly or individually, from the country. On that same day the firm of solicitors in London, from whom the inquiries referred to were received, were notified that such action would be taken if occasion arose. Since that date no application on behalf of the National Sporting Club, Limited, or Mr. Tex Austin has been received for such performances in this country.
Therefore, my Lords, it is possible after the statement that has already been made that the proposal will not be pursued; but in any case on Friday when the Bill comes up for Second Reading in another place it will, of course, be open to members to decide whether or not the instances of cruelty that have been quoted by the noble Lord are of such a nature as to warrant steps being taken to prevent rodeo exhibitions taking place in this country at all. Perhaps deliberations after that date will determine whether the noble Lord would wish to pursue the matter.
Loan O'HAGANMy Lords, I wish very briefly to thank the noble Earl for the way in which he has answered my questions. I only wish to make one comment. It is perfectly true that there was the decision to which he alluded, but the decision that there was no cruelty was come to by a majority of the Bench, by six to five. There have been other cases and the question of whether cruelty is involved in the performances is not to be gauged by the result of one particular case. I would like to ask the noble Earl to use his influence to secure that such facilities as the Government alone can give shall be given for the passing of the Bill in another place. In view of what has been said I will not press my Motion, but I should like to reserve the right to bring it forward again at a subsequent date if it appears necessary.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.