24 MARCH 1928, Page 13

A CHANGE IN THE LAW.

Apart from any strictly humanitarian motives, no one has a right, or even an excuse, to hurt his neighbours' domestic

animals or to upset the balance of nature. To do either is to offend against the law of the land, as well as other social canons. The first step to be taken is to enforce with utter strictness the law as it now stands ; to take pains to track down the offenders, and, when an offence is proved, to apply the maximum penalty. But stricter laws are needed. Trapping should only be allowed under licence ; and the mere registration of professional trappers would make inspection vastly easier and more effective. Such changes in the law

might very well be introduced along with the coming Rooks and Rabbits Act.

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