AGRICULTURE (DAMAGE BY RABBITS). (Hansard, 4 November 1936)

THE EARL OF RADNOR
My Lords, I do not want to detain the House very long upon this subject because it was discussed very fully not long ago; but I must say that I did not realise that the Motion that was agreed to on that occasion was in identical terms to this. Even so, a point arises now which had not occurred to me on that occasion, and that is that these being, as I understand it, the terms of reference to the proposed Committee, the Motion really deals with two questions. It deals with measures against rabbits for the better protection of agriculture, which in itself is one subject, and, under the guise of the protection of agriculture, also brings in the question of gin traps—presumably the question of the humanity or otherwise of gin traps, which is an entirely different question from the protection of agriculture. And not only that, but if you confined the discussion of gin traps to 43 their use in connection with rabbits you would limit the proper discussion of that particular subject, because gin traps are not used only in connection with rabbits. They are used also for such things as rats and other vermin. But there are people who have the belief that gin traps are, first of all, inhumane, and, secondly, unnecessary. I think their plea is that they need not be used against any animal, but they have fastened on the rabbit because the rabbit has a rather more popular appeal than the rat.
I do not know whether it is possible at this stage for the noble Lord to agree, but I suggest to him that the Motion should be amended so as to leave out everything after "rabbits." That does not preclude him or anybody who is interested in gin traps from bringing up the question of the use or otherwise of gin traps against rabbits, but it does prevent the Select Committee from being limited in their consideration of the use of gin traps generally, because, as this Motion is drawn, if the Committee is set up the consideration of gin traps is limited purely to their use against rabbits. I should like to hear the views of His Majesty's Government on that point, and also of the noble Lord who has moved the Motion as to whether he would not consider amending the Motion to that effect.

§ VISCOUNT BLEDISLOE
My Lords, I should like to take this opportunity of congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Merthyr, on his zeal in a very good cause. I only regret that I personally was unable to support him on the occasion when he brought this matter before your Lordships during the summer, because I feel that it is a matter which ought to be very seriously taken up by the Government, and, so far as I know, with the goodwill of landowners—at any rate all progressive and enlightened landowners—in this country, as well as the more efficient farmers. I for my part fail to see what the value of the last part of the Motion is. Indeed I am not quite sure that I fully understand what it means. The first part of the Motion of course is perfectly clear. It suggests that a Select Committee should be appointed to consider what measures, if any, ought to be taken for the better protection of agriculture and the land 44 against the ravages of rabbits. But it goes on to say: and to what extent, if any, the prohibition of the use of gin traps would affect the attainment of the object aforesaid. I presume that what the noble Lord means is, what alternative to the use of gin traps would be effective in attaining the same object. In any case I agree with the noble Earl who has just spoken that the last part of the Motion seems to be hardly relevant to the more important question before the House, and may possibly raise a certain amount of unnecessary criticism in regard to what most people nowadays feel is a very important matter which ought to be taken in hand.
In ease there should be any suggestion that the agricultural landowners of this country favour the prevalence of rabbits on the land, I think it is only right that I should inform your Lordships that at a recent very well attended meeting of the Council of the Central Landowners' Association a unanimous resolution was passed to the effect that this is a matter which ought to be taken in hand by the Government, and that they, the Central Landowners' Association, would afford the Government the fullest support in the event of their taking up the matter. May I in conclusion be allowed to congratulate the noble Earl, Lord Feversham—who, I think I am right in saying, is to-day speaking for his Department for the first time in this House—on the post which he now occupies, a post which I myself had the honour of occupying some years ago?

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY or AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF FEVERSHAD)
My Lords, I would, wish in the first instance to thank the noble Viscount, Lord Bledisloe, for the congratulations he has been good enough to offer me on my appearance here in a new capacity as the Government's representative in your Lordships' House of the great industry of agriculture. It is very gratifying that a noble Lord with such great experience in the administration of agriculture should have extended me such a warm welcome, which I know he himself received when he was serving in a similar capacity. I do not think it is necessary for me to delay your Lordships' consideration of the Motion of my noble friend very long, for I have just referred 45 to the Motion that was moved in May last and I see that it was in exactly the same terms as the Motion to-day. Perhaps your Lordships will recall that my noble friend the Leader of the House replied to the noble Lord on that occasion to the effect that the Government were fully aware of the great damage that was being done, and especially in the last few years, by, rabbits to agriculture and the land generally, and he at the time fully supported the proposal to appoint a Select Committee to consider this matter. I can only add that the Department that I represent are fully aware of the need for an inquiry to be made into this problem.
With reference to the point raised by the noble Earl, Lord Radnor, and the noble Viscount, Lord Bledisloe, with regard to the latter part of the Motion, your Lordships will recall that there was a debate in your Lordships' House on a Private Member's Bill, the Gin Traps (Prohibition) Bill, and that there was a Motion for a Select Committee to inquire into the question of the prohibition or limitation of gin traps, the Motion being defeated by a very small majority. I think the noble Lord, Lord Merthyr, who has now moved this Motion, has in 46 mind the debate that took place specifically on the gin traps question, and that he believes it would be of benefit if that particular aspect were included in the terms of reference in the case of the present Motion. We are all agreed that, whether or not the noble Lord decides it should be included in the terms of the Motion as at present stated, that aspect of gin traps should be carefully considered by the Committee that is to be appointed. I have no further statement to add except to say that the Ministry of Agriculture will watch with interest the developments that take place when the Select Committee is appointed.