straight Talks on Hunt Subscriptions 



times in want of funds. There are a large number 

 of hunts neither too wealthy nor poor that can 

 always raise the necessary guaranteed money, yet 

 are always a trifle in debt. And there are a number 

 of sportsmen who, from one motive or another, 

 **get out" with the lowest possible subscription 

 annually. If a hunt debt has to be carried forward, 

 a few generous members may wipe it off or not ; the 

 small subscriber, if asked, would probably willingly 

 give his share. One of the most difficult and thank- 

 less duties of a committee is the regulation of 

 subscriptions, no one's susceptibilities need be 

 wounded at these suggestions ; they are merely 

 part and parcel of twentieth-century fox-hunting. 



There may be nothing to be said against the 

 custom to graduate hunting subscriptions on a 

 scale of five-pound notes in the shires ; but in 

 a provincial country, where the majority hunt 

 from home, the question is different. Take the 

 one-day-a-week man who subscribes ;£io. It is 

 a big jump for him to subscribe £\^. However, 

 £\2 he might pay. Any small addition of this 

 sort would prevent that balance debt of j£ioo 

 or so against the hunt that we hear of at the 

 annual spring committee meetings. I confess I 

 do not like the system of sending round the hat 

 for hunting expenses or any other objects. 



The subscriptions to the West End clubs are not 



graduated on a level money scale. Why should 



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