§ Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary, whether his attention has been called to an incident which occurred on 17th February last at Bark-ham, near Reading, when a carted deer, hunted by the Berks and Bucks Stag-hounds, got hung up on a fence, and being, while in this position, worried by the hounds, so plunged and struggled as to break two of its legs, some time after which its throat was cut; whether this is the same pack which recently was responsible for the deaths of six carted deer in six consecutive months; and whether, in view of the fact that such incidents are of frequent occurrence and are inevitable when the sport is pursued under such conditions as prevail in the Home Counties, he will consider the desirability of so amending the Acts for the prevention of cruelty to animals that such cases may be brought within their operation?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have seen a report of the case which my hon. Friend has sent me. All readers of the newspapers must have noticed the recurrence from time to time of such painful and repulsive incidents; but, with every wish to put a stop to them, it is impossible for me to introduce legislation to this end in the near future.