asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended to introduce a Bill dealing with game preservation at an early date, and, if so, whether the Bill will deal with the preservation of foxes, and, if not, if he is aware that in many parts of the country fox-hunting is being greatly impeded owing to the scarcity of foxes, which scarcity is attributed to the trapping of foxes for the purpose of selling the pelts to make wearing apparel, and whether he will take steps to prevent the exportation of the fox pelts for such purposes.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRESERVATION OF GAME.
The heads for a Bill dealing with game preservation are at present under consideration, and the Bill will be drafted and introduced as soon as it is possible to do so.
I have no information regarding the suggestion that fox hunting is being greatly impeded owing to the trapping of foxes. Should, however, such be the case, I think that the matter is not one for inclusion in a Game Preservation Bill.
Arising out of that answer, will the Minister state if he was not waited on last year by a deputation in reference to this matter, and will he also state whether if he cannot legislate under the Game Preservation Act, he will meet the matter by other means in a special Bill, or can he offer any solution of the difficulty?
I think I had a deputation last year, and I pointed out to the deputation that it would scarcely be a proper thing to deal with this question of the trapping of foxes in a Game Preservation Bill. Foxes, to a great extent, live on young game. This argument in favour of fox-hunting apparently is that it encourages horse-breeding. If the Minister for Lands and Agriculture thinks so, presumably he will deal with the matter by way of legislation.
May I point out to the Minister that it is not so much a case of encouraging horse breeding as the fact that a great amount of money is brought into this country by people who indulge in fox-hunting? I can show the Minister letters from Secretaries of Fox-Hunting Clubs complaining that foxes are scarce in the country because of the trapping of them and the selling of the pelts for the making of women's wearing apparel. I would point out to the Minister the necessity for stopping in some way the selling of pelts—that is what we want done.
Has the Minister any information from the Minister for Agriculture as to the effect of foxes upon poultry and eggs?