Schechita Exempt in Scottish Slaughter Bill

(J. T. A. Mail Service)

In the House of Commons today on the report stage of the Scotland Slaughter of Animals Bill, which was read the third time, the Lord Advocate moved an amendment to the clause dealing with licenses to provide that the Bill should not apply to any license granted by the local authority to deal with the Jewish method of slaughter.

General Charteris, Conservative, moved an amendment to this amendment, to meet the cases of ships coming into ports manned by Mohammedan crews. L. Lougher, Conservative, seconded. The Lord Advocate said the amendment embodied a substantial point which ought to be met and he asked the House to accept it. The original amendment as amended was agreed to.

On clause 7 which provides that the Bill shall not apply where an animal is slaughtered for the food of Jews by a Jew duly licensed for the purpose by the Chief Rabbi, the Lord Advocate moved an amendment confirming the exception to clause 1 of the measure which deals with humane slaughtering. This amendment was agreed to, together with a further amendment making it necessary that, in addition, the Jewish slaughterer should hold a license from the local authority.

On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Groves, Laborite, protested against the concessions being made to Jewish and Mohammedan communities. He protested against the British House of Commons acquiescing in any cruel methods of slaughter merely to satisfy whims or even religious traditions, he declared. Mr. Gosling, Laborite, from Whitechapel, dissented from what he described as the very unkind remarks made by Mr. Groves in reference to a very worthy people.