WHILE the hunting debate may appear complex it is in reality both simple and fundamental.

At its core is how we view quarry, such as the hare.

Is the animal a mere toy for our amusement or a sentient being to be protected from unnecessary suffering?

Because most people, thankfully, oppose bullying it has always been difficult to recruit new hunters.

In the Art of Beagling, his 1931 book, Captain Paget stressed that hunters should suppress any feelings of compassion.

He wrote: "In hunting, whether it be of fox or hare, every follower should identify himself with hounds' aims and give his entire sympathy to them.

"If he allows himself to sympathise with the hare, his pleasure in the chase will be neutralised and he might as well go home at once."

Parliamentary problems for this pastime today come precisely because most people do sympathise with the hunted.

Dynamic Government often legislates in the public interest to match changing times, e.g. car seat belts, ban on handguns, smoking in some public places, standing at football matches and protection of otters and badgers.

When hare hunters are forced to switch to draghunting, the humane alternative, the only surprise surely is that reform has taken so long.

M J HUSKISSON,

Animal Welfare Information Service, PO Box 8, Halesworth, IP19 0JL