There has been a raging controversy during the week about
Rodeo. After the first performance the steer- roping contests were withdrawn. It was stated, how- ever, that they would be continued in private in the mornings, as the cowboys expected these competitions to he carried out for the money prizes. On Tuesday the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals applied to the magistrates at the Wealdstone Petty Sessions for summonses against Mr. C. B. Cochran, the promoter of the Rodeo, Mr. Tex Austin, the manager, and a cowboy. The cowboy who is summoned had roped a steer whose leg was broken. The Society, however, went further than to deal with the steer-roping exhibitions. It successfully applied for summonses under the Pro- tection of Animals Act against Mr. Cochran and Mr. Austin for " keeping a place for the purpose of fighting or baiting animals." We shall make no comment as the matter is now sub judice. We had intended to publish an article discussing the question of cruelty, but we have withdrawn it at the last moment.
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