PERFORMING ANIMALS (REGULATION) AMENDMENT BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 13 December 1938)

§ LORD CHARNWOOD

had given Notice that he would move that leave be given to him to withdraw the Performing Animals (Regulation) Amendment Bill; and present a new Bill in its place. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I am sorry to detain the House for a moment. I had brought in a short Bill in what I humbly hoped was plain English. I discovered that it was not plain English, for the people whose occupation would be affected by that Bill understand it in a perfectly different sense from that in which I did. The simple and the sole intention of the Bill was to prohibit performances by certain classes of dangerous and unsuitable animals. The industry concerned, I am informed, understand it as prohibiting also the mere exhibition of these animals—tigers and so forth—in menageries and the like. That was not at all the intention of those who drew this Bill. As I want to make its meaning perfectly plain before, at a later stage, I ask your Lordships to read it a second time, I ask that leave be given me to withdraw the Performing Animals (Regulation) Amendment Bill and to present a new Bill in its place.