§ Sir A. Baillieasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers in Kent are concerned over the heavy losses 1395W incurred through sheep being worried by dogs; and whether he will investigate the possibility in the national food interest of taking effective action to restrain these animals?
Mr. HudsonI am aware that farmers in Kent as well as in other parts of the country have experienced some losses as a result of the worrying of their sheep by dogs, in spite of the existing measures to prevent such occurrences. I have given the matter my most careful consideration, but no method of dealing with the problem presents itself which would be practical as well as wholly effective. An appeal has recently been made to all dog-owners through the Press and wireless to keep their dogs under proper control whenever they are in the countryside.
§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the damage done to sheep by dogs out of control; and whether, as killer-dogs never desist from such slaughter, he will ensure that they be always destroyed on detection?
Mr. HudsonI am aware that there have been some complaints about the damage done to sheep by uncontrolled dogs. I have no power to direct the destruction of any dog which has been proved to have killed or injured sheep. Such power is vested in courts of summary jurisdiction but, under the provisions of the Dogs Amendment Act, 1938, the decisions of those courts may, on appeal, be set aside by courts of quarter sessions.