HL Deb 06 April 1954 vol 186 cc1041-54

5.56 p.m.

LORD AMMON rose to ask whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the disaster on the Aintree racecourse during the Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday, 27th March, when 29 horses started, of which 20, including four killed, failed to finish the course; whether the law concerning cruelty to animals applies in such cases, and to move for Papers. The noble Lord said: My Lords, it is unfortunate that the pressure of business and attractions in another place have probably given us a much smaller audience than the widespread interest aroused in the matter which I desire to bring before your Lordships deserves. It is, perhaps, somewhat appropriate that on the same day on which we have been discussing slaughterhouses we should discuss the slaughter of horses in another manner. I want to make it quite clear, however, that I am not concerned in any way in interfering with racing or the turf. I, with those whom I represent, am concerned wholly, at the moment, with urging as strongly as I can that steps should be taken to avoid the unnecessary cruelty that takes place in steeplechasing, with special reference to the Grand National.

The fact that the recent Grand National has received world-wide publicity is an indication that public attention has been roused. To that extent, one has to thank the Press for, at last, taking notice of it, because, after all, what has happened is nothing new. Ever since the Grand National started, there has been a yearly toll of dead, mangled and injured horses; and the fact that horses are entered for it year after year in the knowledge that most of them will not be able to make the course and that those who do will do so only under severe pressure, is enough to indict it for cruelty, apart altogether from the particular fatalities. Lest I should he thought to use exaggerated language in saying that this matter has aroused world-wide interest, I may tell your Lordships that I have been interviewed by the United States Press and I have received cables from Australia on the subject. Only an hour or two ago, I received another aerogram, also from Australia. I propose to inflict only those on your Lordships from hundreds of letters and communications I have received from. private individuals. Let me say that not all of those people are mere sentimentalists. A number of them, in their letters, have explained that in some way or another they have been connected with the racing business or are interested in it, but they all deplore the dreadful and avoidable cruelty that arises from this particular race and others similar to it.

This is a cable I have received from the R.S.P.C.A. of Sydney, Australia: Wholeheartedly support your principles for the modification of steeplechasing. Appalled at tragic loss of noble animals.

Here is another cable: Congratulations al stand re National, Continuation insult to human dignity. Thing of the past. Here thousands with you. Sharp, Sydney.

The aerogram I have received is from one who was an officer with the Australian forces that came over here in the First World War. He says: There are few readers of the Daily Press in Australia whose senses were not numbed on reading the report of the race. First allow me to assure you I am no sentimental crank. During the First World. War, I served with the Australian Forces in France and Belgium. The treatment meted out to dumb animals on the Continent shocked even the most hardened soldier. On witnessing this, the common expression among us was, 'Thank God, we are of British stock.' With the report in our Press, a certain doubt rises within us as to the pride in our origin. A race so hazardous that nine out of twenty-nine bosses finished the course, and the death of four horses, is sufficient condemnation of those in charge of the race and the course.

I do not propose to read any more; I will just intimate that I have here a list of the horses, and the details concerning them, that have lost their lives in recent years in this particular race. If propose to give some of the details in regard to the last five years, so that your Lordships may see that our opposition is not all based on one particular race. In 1950, forty-nine horses started, seven finished, forty-two failed, two died. In 1951, thirty-six started, three finished, thirty-three failed. In 1952, forty-seven started, nine finished, thirty-eight failed. In 1953, thirty-one started, five finished, twenty-six failed. In 1954, twenty-nine started, nine finished, twenty failed, four died. I submit that the fact that so few out of all those horses were able to make the course, and those that came through did so only under heavy punishment, is enough to condemn the race as something which ought not to be allowed to continue. But there are other details which are probably worth your Lordships' notice. In 1952, in the race I have mentioned, Skouras was destroyed and Freebooter was injured and had not recovered sufficiently to run in this year's race; thirty-seven out of forty-seven fell, or refused, and could not complete the course: ten fell at the first jump, some were trampled on and some less seriously injured.

In 1953. the season's record of all the steeplechasing shows that approximately seventy-two horses were killed, about half of these because of broken limbs or staking, while a few dropped dead. Therefore the whole story is not contained in the number of horses killed, which has shocked people and has given us a wider publicity now: it is in the fact that, however large the number of starters, nine is a fairly large proportion to finish the course. That is the number that came through this year, and, as I have said, four others were killed. I submit that this is something of which we ought to take notice, having regard to our reputation for the humane treatment of animals, and that what has happened ought to arouse, and indeed it has aroused, the indignation of thousands of people throughout the country. Non is that all the story; hundreds of the horses who fail are not heard of again. It is difficult to get news about them—probably they die or are not further used. Even some of those that win become utterly demoralised and are hardly of any further service. I am quite aware from the custom of the House of the answer I am likely to get. but I hope I shall have some assurance from the Government that they will use their influence with the particular bodies or whoever is concerned in the matter, to see whether some modification cannot be brought about. The credit and the fair name of this country ought not to be so used without some attempt being made to protect it.

I have here another report, which states: Countless other horses have received injury in this race; some are so completely demoralised as never to be able to win another race. Few will recall those gallant post-war Grand National winners, Lovely Cottage, Caughoo, Sheila's Cottage.

When I asked friends in this Society for the Modification of Steeplechasing and Grand National Reform to give me more information about the matter, I strictly underlined that I wanted facts, not sentiments, and it is facts I am bringing before your Lordships this afternoon. I hope they will shock your Lordships as they seem to have shocked many hundreds of people outside. The pressure and opinion of this House will go a great way with those people who maintain this race merely for material and financial gain and without any humanitarian ideas at all. Some of the Grand National figures are worth noting. In ten of the worst Grand Nationals, between 1923 and 1953. a grand total of 431 horses started; the amazing number of 352 came to grief and only seventy-five finished the course, hardly a year passing without some being mortally injured and destroyed. Every one of these statements can be proved and tested against the names. with details of the horses, what they suffered and so forth. I am merely bringing before your Lordships a case, for which I hope there is no need for further evidence, as to the tremendous cruelty involved; and I am trying to show that there is every reason why we should take such steps as are possible to bring about better conditions.

I want to show that not only do we bring accusations but we have some suggestions to make to achieve better treatment for horses in the years to come. Among suggestions that are being made is that something should be done, first of all, to shorten the distance of four and a half miles, which, at the tremendous pace at which it is run, is far too long. Becher's Brook and The Chair should also be modified. The thirty hurdles should be reduced and, above all, some check should be made on the quality and condition of the horses that are allowed to enter. That, alone, would do a great deal to diminish the number that fail to make the course. And, by no means the least, something should be done with regard to the first obstacle. Anybody who knows anything about the race knows that many who fail there are unable to make it owing to bunching and insufficient room. These are some of the suggestions which I think should be given serious consideration. These dumb animals, noble creatures and some of the best friends of man. deserve much better treatment than they receive in this particular instance; and I think it is the duty of people, particularly those situated as your Lordships are, to take what steps they can to see that some modification is brought about, that something is done to humanise this race, and that our fair fame is not lowered before the whole world by the continuance of this brutal and cruel sport. I beg to move for Papers.

6.10 p.m.

LORD CALVERLEY

My Lords, I rise for a few moments to support my noble friend. I do so because it is one of the characteristics of the English race that we love horses. That is why, in hurdling and jumping, the whole nation holds in high esteem such names as Colonel Llewellyn and Miss Pat Smythe. I, for one, like to listen in to a commentary on a good flat race. I listened in, of course, to the Grand National, but I have always been glad that that race has never been televised. I think of the real indignation—even to-day letters have been published in some of the provincial papers—of the whole country. Ordinary men and women in the street, and not simply an institution, are shocked that this limited company which runs the Aintree racecourse—which is, I may add, a purely commercial concern—can with impunity hold this Grand National steeplechase without, it would appear, any chance of real supervision from any public body. I know sufficient of the members of the Jockey Club to know that if such a thing took place in flat racing they would stop any abuses which put any dumb animals, especially horses, which we hold in such great affection—

EARL WINTERTON

May I interrupt the noble Lord? He is not doing justice to the National Hunt Committee.

LORD CALVERLEY

I am just going to refer to them. I have made a note "Coming to the National Hunt Committee"—I am grateful to the noble Earl for reminding me that I had actually written down a note to that effect.

I want this House to join with the ordinary folk who are real sportsmen and do not enjoy looking at cruel spectacles. I wish that I knew the appropriate authority in this House—perhaps it is the noble Lord, Lord Lloyd, but I do not think so. However, I hope that the noble Lord will find out the usual channels to approach the National Hunt Committee and then tell them that they have a duty to perform, not simply to Mrs. Topham but also to the people of this country. They like to see a good race, but they hope that, when the race has been run, the majority of those taking part, the animals and the jockeys (this House, I believe, lost a distinguished Member in one such race) will be left unscathed. I ask that this House should take its part in impressing upon Her Majesty's Government the need to tell, and if necessary to prod, to give a hearty "kick in the pants" some members of the National Hunt Committee. We should tell them that they should either see that Topham's Limited run the race in a humane fashion or cancel the licence of the company to run the race—an eventuality which I should rather deplore. But there is another alternative. I put the positive suggestion that the National Hunt Committee should inform the Aintree people that, if they do not put their house in order, the race will be transferred to Cheltenham; then some more people in the South of England could perhaps enjoy it. That is all I have come especially from Yorkshire to say. There is real indignation in the country at this continued slaughter of these noble animals. It is high time that this slaughter, this cruelty, was stopped.

6.16 p.m.

LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH

My Lords, in rising to say one word on the Motion of the noble Lord opposite, I desire, in the first instance, to disclaim absolutely any expert knowledge of steeplechasing. I cannot help wondering, together, I think, with many other complete laymen in this matter, why this course has to be quite so severe. I wonder whether it serves any object which could not be equally well served by a slight lessening of the severity of the course.

I know that the object of noble Lords opposite is to reduce the suffering which is caused to horses. My object in rising is to direct your Lordships' attention to an even wider source of suffering to horses, to which I hope noble Lords opposite will direct their attention. I am quite convinced that there is much greater suffering caused in the transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption than in all the steeplechases nut together. I believe it to be an established fact that great suffering is caused to horses in transit from Ireland into this country for slaughter, and in transit from this country to the Continent for slaughter. I believe that it is a tragic misfortune that this form of transport is not governed by an existing statutory order. I have been digging into the matter and I find that there is an order called the Transit of Animals (Amendment) Order. 1931, which governs the transport of butcher's meat animals for slaughter and which lays down meticulous conditions which have to be observed. But when that Order was passed there was no trade in horsemeat in this country for human consumption, and consequently horses are, unfortunately, not included in the Order.

My object in rising is simply to make a double plea. My first plea is to noble Lords, and others who have been deeply stirred by these unhappy events at Aintree, to direct their attention to this other source of cruelty—a course which I am sure will appeal to them just as much as it does to me. That is my first plea: do not let this indignation about Aintree be directed solely at that particular source of suffering to horses; but let this generous emotion of noble Lords be devoted rather more widely. Secondly, my plea is to the Government. Obviously, I cannot expect my noble friend who is to reply to deal with this quite unexpected question offhand, but if I am right in thinking that this Transit of Animals (Amendment) Order, could be extended by a very small addition to include horses, will the Government look into it to see whether that can be done?

6.20 p.m.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I had not intended to intervene in the debate on this Motion, but I think that perhaps as your Lordships have heard two speeches from the Back Benches you might wish to hear the view of those who sit on this Front Bench. That view is in broad general support of the humanitarian plea made by the noble Lords on the Back Benches. I think we all feel that there has been a great deal of public concern about the number and the seriousness of the casualties in the last Grand National. At the same time, it is, of course, much more difficult to know what appropriate action could be taken to diminish occurrences of this kind in the future. I do not think it would be appropriate for the Government to impose any restrictions on steeplechasing or, indeed, to appoint a committee of inquiry to investigate these matters. As one who has had some administrative experience, I hardly think this is an appropriate field for Government action. That may, perhaps, be the line which the noble Lord who is to reply on behalf of the Government will take.

On the other hand, I should like to make this plea to the noble Lord: that the suggestion of the noble Lord, Lord Calverley, that the attention of the National Hunt Committee be drawn to this matter, and that they be asked to inquire into the conditions under which the Grand National is run. should be followed up. I believe that that would be a not unreasonable course to take. I think that an inquiry of this kind by the appropriate authority—I do not know whether the National Hunt Committee is the appropriate authority; there may be another racing authority—would be fully justified, and the terms of reference might cover the cause of these accidents and any recommendations the Committee might think fit to make about ways and means of avoiding such occurrences in the future. At the moment, I do not think any Government action is called for. On the other hand, I think that, in view of the concern that has been shown by ordinary people and by the Press, Government action might be called for in time to come, if occurrences of this kind were repeated. I feel that at the moment it would be quite sufficient if an inquiry were set on foot by the appropriate authority, and that suitable action should be left to their discretion. We are dealing with people who are extremely responsible, both from the point of view of racing and from the point of view of the public. I think they should be given a fair chance of doing what they consider, in the circumstances, is right and proper.

6.23 p.m.

EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, I wish only to address a few sentences to you upon this Motion. First, I wish to support what has been said by the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, in what I think your Lordships will agree was a most temperate and moderate speech on the subject. Clearly, the Government have no power of intervention unless the law has been broken. Equally, the National Hunt Committee are a properly constituted body with a high reputation who will no doubt have regard to what has been said in your Lordships' House. I should not have risen to speak but for the fact that I thought I detected in the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Calverley, and to some extent in that of the noble Lord who initiated the debate, something that seemed to me rather like unfair criticism of Messrs. Topham and the Liverpool authorities generally. I do not wish to enter into any argument on this matter, but noble Lords must make up their minds in dealing with this subject. Steeplechasing, like hunting and many other pursuits in which many Members of your Lordships' House have taken part, is a dangerous sport, and the fact that a noble Lord broke his neck when riding in the Grand National is no more an argument against the Grand National than is the fact that several noble Lords have broken their necks in the hunting field an argument against hunting. In my view, it would be a pity if it went out from your Lordships' House that there was undue criticism here. Surely we should leave the appropriate authorities to consider what has been said in this debate and decide what course they should take thereafter. I repeat that I strongly support what has been said by the noble Earl, Lord Listowel.

6.25 p.m.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (LORD LLOYD)

My Lords, I think I can best carry out my task by speaking fairly briefly—which I know will he a relief to your Lordships. What I have to do is merely to explain the Government's position in this matter. We have had an interesting debate in which a number of noble Lords have expressed very sincere views. I do not intend to go at length into all those views, because I think I can serve your Lordships better by just dealing shortly with the two questions which I have been asked. The first of Lord Amnion's questions was whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government had been drawn to the distressing events during the running of the Grand National on March 27 last. Secondly he asked whether the law concerning cruelty to animals was applicable.

.As regards the first question, I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, because in what was, I thought, a very wise speech he said for me what I have to say. He said—and I will repeat it—that this is not a matter in which the Government have any responsibility. The regulation of the conduct of steeplechasing is a matter for the authorities concerned with that sport; and tributes have been paid by noble Lords to-day to the National Hunt Committee, who are a very reputable body and who are concerned with this matter. That Committee will no doubt pay due attention to what has been said in your Lordships' House; but I emphasise that. this is a matter for them. and not one for Her Majesty's Government. The noble Lord, Lord Calverley, seemed to wish us to do most violent things to the National Hunt Committee. We were to tell them off; we were to prod them; we were to give them a "hearty kick in the pants." The noble Lord might like us to do that, but we are really in no position to do any of those things to the National Hunt Committee. It would be quite improper if we did.

LORD CALVERLEY

My point is this. The National Hunt Committee have a responsibility to the public, and if they are anything like the Jockey Club, and have a similar sense of responsibility, then, just as the Jockey Club act, we expect the National Hunt Committee to act—that is all.

LORD LLOYD

I apprehend the noble Lord's point. I will pass on from that, if I may, to give the House some information which I think may be of interest in considering this matter. I think that a sense of proportion here is not, perhaps, unimportant. I therefore thought it right, when I saw that the noble Lord, Lord Ammon, proposed to raise this matter, to obtain some factual information about matters to which reference has been made in comments on this year's race. I have not been able to get figures for previous years of the number of horses killed in the race or which had to be destroyed as a result of accidents. I believe it is true to say that the number which died this year was exceptional, if not unprecedented. I think it would be wrong to imagine that the Grand National is a race in which four horses are killed every year—that is quite untrue. It should, moreover, be remembered that, of the four horses killed, only two actually met their deaths as a direct result of falls. One died of heart failure, and another had to be destroyed as the result of an accident which occurred after his rider had been unseated. The noble Lord, Lord Ammon, I think, talked about the enormous number of horses that fall. These horses were not necessarily injured: they may merely have fallen or pulled up. I make that point only because I think that this is a matter which we ought to get in proportion.

LORD AMMON

I have the full list, and I am prepared to give the noble Lord all the details.

LORD LLOYD

If the noble Lord will do that, I shall be glad to receive the details from him. I understood him to say that a large number of horses were injured. As a matter of fact, on the whole, the number of horses injured is remarkably small. The death of four horses this year, and two horses last year, has led to suggestions that the difficulties of the race have been increasing. I am informed that that is not so. The heights of the jumps have not been generally increased since the war. A comparison of the heights this year and in 1936 shows that only one jump has been increased, and that from 4 feet 6 inches—which is the minimum permissible under the rules of the National Hunt Committee—to 4 feet 6½ inches, while some of the heights have been reduced by one or two inches. The remainder of the jumps—in which I include Becher's Brook—were the same height. The noble Lord referred to Becher's Brook in particular. Your Lordships will be interested to know that in this year's race not a single horse fell at Becher's Brook, either time round, The deduction which may be drawn from this is that it is not necessarily true that the formidable nature of this obstacle constitutes its peculiar difficulty. Another point of some interest is that the number of runners in this year's race, twenty-nine, was smaller than in any year since the war; and the number of falls, fifteen, was both the lowest figure and the lowest in proportion to the number of runners during the same period.

I think it worth mentioning these facts because we must have some sense of proportion about this. In that respect, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, for reminding your Lordships that the Grand National is not the only place where cruelty may happen to horses, and perhaps we might also keep that in mind when considering, this matter. I have given your Lordships these facts to bear in mind in drawing conclusions from the unhappy outcome of this year's race. It is not for me to suggest what those conclusions should be. I would repeat emphatically that the conduct of this race and of steeplechasing generally is not a matter in which the Government have any power to intervene. The noble Lord, Lord Ammon, asked me for an assurance, and I am able to tell him this, at any rate: that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary is inviting the stewards of the National Hunt Committee to discuss this matter with him.

The noble Lord's other question was whether the law concerning cruelty to animals is applicable in this case. On this point I can do no more than refer the noble Lord to the terms of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911. He is as good a reader of English and judge of the law as I am, because we are both laymen. It is not for me to say whether these provisions would be applicable in a case of this kind—that is a matter which can be decided only in a court of law. I will go further, and say that it would be entirely improper for me, as Government spokesman, to express an opinion on this matter.

6.32 p.m.

LORD AMMON

My Lords, may I start by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Lloyd, for his assurance that there are to be discussions between the Home Secretary and the National Hunt Committee—that is some gain. But I challenge entirely the statement that the Government have no concern with this matter. Cruelty should be a matter for the Government, and the very fact that there is an Act on the Statute Book dealing with cruelty to animals is sufficient support of my argument. Cruelty is proved by the fact that it must be known that, of the horses entered, a number are not able to finish, and that those able to finish it only do so under very heavy punishment. It is known beforehand that many will be injured and some killed. If necessary, I can give the noble Lord the history of every horse injured or killed in the Grand National since it started. I agree with the noble Earl, Lord, Winterton, that steeplechasing is a dangerous game, but the matter all depends on whether the rules of the game are such as to give a fair chance to those taking part in it. All we are asking is that the rules should be altered so that a horse has a chance to come through. This year, only nine out of twenty-nine came through. That is proof of one of the suggestions we make, that the number of horses allowed to enter should he limited to a much smaller figure. That would give some opportunity to the horses to get through.

The noble Lord, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, knows well that we wholeheartedly support what he said about other cases of cruelty; but the fact that there are other cases of cruelty does not minimise in any way the one with which we are concerned. I believe I am right in saying that it is much easier to get the Government to deal with questions of importing and exporting horses than with the matter I have raised. It is the concern of the Government to take action against anything which will lead to the brutalising of the public mild or the unnecessary sacrificing of these creatures. The trouble is to get publicity given to the matter. All that Topham's have been concerned about is the commercial angle, and they have resisted strongly any attempt to limit or minimise the difficulties of this race. They have also opposed any attempt to televise it.

I want to get on record some of the suggestions I had meant to make. I suggest that the number of starters be limited to twenty and that the fences be lowered to 4 feet 6 inches—that is, to take them back to what they were before.

I suggest that the steep drop into Becher's Brook should be modified and that there should be fewer unnecessary obstacles. I suggest that the course should be limited to three and a half miles, instead of four and a half, I would suggest to the noble Lord that these are some of the matters which the Home Secretary and the National Hunt Committee might discuss. I am grateful for the measure of support given by noble Lords. I am glad that we have gained the point that the matter is going to be discussed, and beg leave to withdraw my Motion.

LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEICH

My Lords, before the Motion is withdrawn, may I ask the spokesman of the Government whether he will say a few words in answer to the question I raised?

LORD LLOYD

My Lords, I speak again with leave of the House. I apologise to the noble Lord that I did not deal with the point he raised, but I do not know the answer at the moment. I will, however, look into it, and will write to the noble Lord about it.

LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH

I thank the noble Lord.

Motion for Papers, by leave, withdrawn.