13 JULY 1929, Page 18

CRUELTY IN SPORT.

The test of " innovation." At first sight this appears to be a good test. There is no doubt that with modern standards of cruelty hunting would not stand this test. But Sir S. H. Scott allows that killing and eating animals for food is not according to these modern standards looked upon as cruel. Yet if you apply this test of " innovation " what could be more cruel than to slaughter live animals, or more repulsive than to eat dead carcases ? This test of innovation does not stand as a test. If it did, and we were to go by it, life would become so super-civilized and attenuated to such a degree, that most natural things would go, including probably ourselves.—H. METCALFE.