M.P'S. CIRCUS DAYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4565, 18 May 1923, Page 1

M.P'S. CIRCUS DAYS.

PERFORMING ANIMALS RESTRICTIONS. FLEAS TRAINED BY FEAR. Tales of circus days,, of performing fleas and the disappearing canary, entertained the House of Commons during the discussion of a Bill presented by Brig.-General Colvin to im-po.-e restrictions on animal performances in circuses, music-halls,, and elsewhere. The second reading of the Bill was carried by 139 to 35. ■‘There is no intention of prohibiting animal performances ; the object is to prevent cruelty,” said Brjig.General Colvin. The evidence about anthropoid apes and chinipanzees was that they were of uncertain temperament and easily lost self control, and the Select Coriimittee which investigated the subject heard .of several instances in which' these animals had been most severely thrashed both before and after performances. In the case of the conjuring trick with the disappearing canary theie was no cruelty so far as they could judge, / but what happened was that the cage with the bird inside it collapsed and slipped up the conjuror’s sleeve, and it was nett a pleasant or comfortable position for the bird. Sir Walter de Frece,. the music-hall manager, insisted that there was no real cruelty to performing animals m this country. - > '< ■ To show what theatrical managers had-to put up with he mentioned a play in London where ducks swam in a nond on the stage. An excised woman went to the manager’s office one day and told him,, “I’m certain the ducks are doped, because they do not flutter about on the water.” (Laughter.) The truth was that, the ducks were a little somnolent because the water, had been warmed in the interests of artists who had to swim in U. “Mr Speaker, T have 20 or 30 lions,” Mr Pat Colliris, the travelling showman, told an astonished House. There was no more cruelty in training animals, he argued, than in breaking in a horse.

“I was a circus boy myself 50 years ago,” confided Mr Ben Tillett to the House. “I have been about with a little Scotch terrier and a Shetland pony, and I have slept. with them many a time at the Hotel de Haystack (laughter)^—the terrier keeping the rats and mice away.” Tf there was any cruelty towards animals in a circus there were always plenty of people about ready to take the part, of the animals. FLEA JUMPS. Mr Graves entertained the Hbuse by describing how performing fleas are tamed. “A very small glass, case is placed over the fleas,he explained to a House shouting with laughter. “Then the glass is warmed, and the temperature is increased till the fleas jump. (Roars of laughter.) These fleas go on jumping and jumping till they are so injured that they fear the next jump.” (More laughter.) He argued from this that all performing animals had been Strained by the fear of bodily injury.