Act now on hunting ban (From Gazette Series)

Act now on hunting ban

SIR - The Hunting with Dogs issue rumbles on - the government has been procrastinating long enough - they must honour their pledge to the voting public and allow its MPs to resolve this issue.

I would like to challenge the pro-hunt lobby to publish in your paper their claim as pronounced all over the countryside and on many a street corner that 59 per cent of us say that hunting should continue. I suspect they will refrain from doing so as it could be challenged and proved to be false.

The Campaigning to Protect Hunted Animals (CPHA) have no such reservations. A Mori poll released by them last week showed that 76 per cent of the public think hunting with dogs should not be legal - with 82 per cent believing deer hunting should not be legal, 69 per cent believing fox hunting should not be legal and 77 per cent that hare hunting and coursing should not be legal. 76 per cent is an average of these three figures.

How can pro hunters justify their 59 per cent claim?

Hunting with dogs is cruel and must cease. As might be expected with Joint Committee on Human Rights, consisting of members of both the Lords and House of Commons, has expressed reservations about the Bill. In essence the Committee has raised virtually the same issues as were raised by the Alliance in their failed appeal against the Scottish Act.

You do not have a case based on the majority of views, so look to the alternatives now - do not continue breeding hounds - allow natural and unnatural wastage to take place - and turn to drag hunting. By the time hunting is consigned to history there will be no need for hounds or horses to be put down, as those participating will probably find their numbers increasing.

J Freeland, Leaze Close, Berkeley