This League has now been at work for ten years. It is the first society of its kind and since its foundation in 1925, it has done very useful work, strengthening and widening currents of opinion which will before long, if efforts be not relaxed, abolish cruel sport of every kind.
Branches of the League have been formed at Bristol, Hastings, Leeds, the South-Western Area and Southport; Working Groups at Bolton, Brighton and Hove, Carlisle, Colchester, Ipswich and Nottingham. The League is largely responsible for the decay of stag-hunting in the West Country. It challenged this ancient iniquitous “sport” by boldly organising public meetings and demonstrations in the district and pursued the campaign with vigour.
Thoroughly alarmed, the staghunters appealed to “sportsmen” everywhere to defend them and society for the protection of all cruel sports was inaugurated. Two years ago the League challenged this society to public debate; the motion against cruel sports was carried by large majority. The efficacy of the campaign is abundantly proved by the necessity for society of sportsmen to protect the traditional barbarities of the English countryside.
Mention must be made of the League’s petition against the Eton College Beagles; its National Appeal against Stag-hunting and its Liverpool and Southport petitions against the bare-coursing for the Waterloo Cup, all of which aroused public interest.
Its most recent efforts have been a letter to all M.P.s regarding the proposed introduction of Bills against hunting and coursing, and the calling of a Liverpool Conference to discuss ways and means of preventing the centenary of the Waterloo Cup next February.
Nearly 100,000 copies of the League’s publications have been sent to leading representative people throughout the country, including teachers, preachers and social workers everywhere.
All these activities cost money, and can no longer be carried on in the present offices, two very small rooms, and we shall have to take larger premises. This will necessitate paying more rent.
In the early days several wealthy members could be relied upon to give generously whenever the necessity arose, but these good friends have passed on and now the League has to rely upon an Annual Appeal to stabilize its income.
The Cause is a popular one; the work accomplished has been described as “phenomenal” but as the cruel practices condemned by the League are confined to country districts and the creatures involved are wild, the monetary response is not so great as for societies protecting domestic animals. Therefore we do most urgently appeal to each of our members to endeavour to obtain one new member during the year and to send us a donation to help us to lay the foundation stone of larger humanity which will embrace all creatures.