27 DECEMBER 1930, Page 13

In very many places the shooting syndicates arc a by-word.

There is no objection to a syndicate as such. It is the natural method of approach to sport for men who are not overburdened with money ; and there are many admirable syndicates of good sportsmen. Nevertheless, in cases where the syndicate has little or no local connexion with the place, or even county, many evils crop up. The men are greedy to kill all they

put down." They descend like harpies on a county neighbour- hood, which get no good out of them, sometimes not even courtesy ; and the only bond of connexion between the place and the sportsmen is the keeper. And, under instruction, the keeper is apt to be entirely ruthless in his pursuit of vermin, not least the fox and the badger.

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