Trust triumph as vote secures hunts’ future
The defeat of a motion to ban hunting shows the public’s viewpoint
THE tiny percentage of National Trust members who voted for a hunting ban proves that the majority of the British public is “not interested” in opposing hunting, supporters believe.
At the charity’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 21 October, 30,686 people voted for a members’ resolution calling for a ban on trail-hunting on all trust land. The motion was defeated, with 30,985 votes against, but the fact fewer than 1% of the charity’s members voted in favour of a ban is indicative of public mood, according to the Countryside Alliance’s (CA) head of hunting Polly Portwin (see box).
“While we are happy with the outcome, the resolution was ill-informed, unnecessary and has wasted the trust’s time and money,” Ms Portwin added.
Baroness Ann Mallalieu, a trust member and CA president, said the charity had been “dragged into a fight it would rather avoid”.
“But it will always have members who feel strongly on both sides of any controversial issue,” she added. “Surely the time has come for the trust to adopt firm and consistent policy to permit lawful activities, of which trail-hunting is one, on trust land.
“Then the pro and anti-badger cullers, the anti-hunt lobby, vegan anti-livestock farmers and the CA can argue issues without the trust being diverted from its job.”
NOT THE FIRST
BUSINESSMAN Robert WaleyCohen, who hunts with the Warwickshire, told the AGM that as well as being from a donor family, he served for nine years on the National Trust council.
“During that time, and indeed my 40 years as a member, there has been a number of attempts by small but vociferous single-issue organisations to try and bully the trustees into taking action to further their particular cause,” he said. “But in every case the proposal was completely without any regard for what might be in the trust’s best interest.
“This is another one but with no evidence, just assertions.”
A trust spokesman said trustees had recommended hunting continue, taking into account changes made to licences under which hunts operate.
“The conservation charity has been carefully listening to both sides of a highly polarised and passionate debate for years,” he added. “We are pleased members had the opportunity to debate this and voted to support the trustees.”
Under trust rules, another motion to ban hunting may not be introduced for four years.