ANIMALS' PROTECTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13421, 19 October 1907, Page 6

ANIMALS' PROTECTION.

IS COURSING CRUEL?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN A CLOUD

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 18. Oil the • Legislative Council meeting at 2.30 p.m., on-a motion to go into committee on the Animals Protection Bill, Mr Beehan read a letter he had received from.Mr C. E, Tapper, secretary to the Auckland Coursing Club, protest--ing against the remarks made by Mr George on the second reading of the Bill relative to alleged cruelty of Plumpton coursing. Reference was made in the letter to Mr George's connection with hunting, the contention putf forward being that this was less humane than Plumpton coursing. '• Mr Beehan himself traversed Mr George's statements and said that a hare had only to run 600 yards" to reach the escapes. There was no danger of a hare being brought out twice on the earns day on the Plumpton. Mr George said that the letter bora out everything he had -said: The hare was chased for its life time after time. It was going back to the old gladiatorial .days, and was a cruel form of sport. Mr Jenkinson entirely objected to granting licenses for ebooting game. ;Gamewas introduced into the colony;" and it should be free to all, rich arid poor. The motion to go into "committee was then carried. At sub-eectiori 3 of clause 3, which limits the killing of game other than deer to hours between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Mr Rigg objected to this prohibition, and moved to have the clause struck but. The Attorney-General explained that the clause had been put in at the instance of the Acclimatisation Societies. Mr Trask suggested extending the hours to 5 a.m. This would give an additional hour. The Attorney-General expressed, his willingness to accept an amendment to this effect-. Mr Rigg's amendment- was defeated by 23 votes to five votes. A long discussion ensued on the exclusion of deer from, the operation of the clause. ' - ; ' Shortly before 5 o'clock the AttorneyGeneral remarked that the debate had revealed a number of unholy alliance. He confessed that he did not know exactly where he was, and he would require to consider his position. ' '' Progress was accordingly reported, and the Council rose.