BANNING ALSATIAN DOGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 8

BANNING ALSATIAN DOGS

CONTROVERSY IN AUSTRALIA. The Minister of Agriculture in New South Wales (Mr H. Main) did not hold out much hope that their request would be granted when he replied to members of a deputation representing the Newcastle and District General Dog Club (independent rules and club rules), which askqd him on Tuesday of last week to make it impossible for local governing authorities in the country to ban Alsatian dogs without reference to a higher authority. The organiser of the independent rules division (Mr F. Oughton) said that ' Alsatian dogs had been banned in all directions without proper consideration being given to the matter. It had been argued that Alsatians would breed with dingoes. That was extremely unlikely, but if such a mischance did occur the progeny would be “mules,” which would not breed. The president of the club rules division (Dr Koll) declared that there .was scientific proof that Alsatian dogs and dingoes could no .more be bred' from than could greyhounds and dingoes. Mr Main; Breeding between two distinct varieties does not necessarily bring about a non-breeding hybrid. The Alsatian has all those attributes which would make him a good killer if he got away. Mr Main read from letters and other documentary evidence that some Alsatian dogs were sheep killers, and that there had been breeding with dingoes. It was the intention of the Ministry to leave the control of Alsatian dogs under the pastures protection boards, although no fresh powers would be given except by Act of Parliament.