§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1 (Penalty for killing sand-grouse).
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)said, there was an objection to this clause, though to the Bill he made no objection. But the clause created the offence immediately on the passing of the Act, and this was unreasonable, for there would be no notice given to anybody. Most certainly there ought to be a notice of, say, three or four months before making it a criminal offence to kill one of these birds. As the hon. Member would see, there were no means of persons knowing the contents of the Act.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)said, the reason for the immediate application was the intensity of the evil the Bill was intended to remedy. It was growing day by day, and the only chance of making the Bill of practical value was to put it in force at the earliest possible moment. Should he make it the 1st of January? If made much later the Bill would not be of much use.
§ SIR RICHARD WEBSTERsuggested the 1st of February.
§ Amendment proposed, in line 11, to leave out the words "passing of this Act," and insert the words "first of February, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine."—(The Attorney General.)
§ Amendment agreed to.
1384§ SIR RICHARD WEBSTERsaid, of course there must be a further Amendment. Does the hon. Member propose the same date as for other grouse, making it illegal at all time?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONsaid, that was his object.
§ Amendment proposed, after the words just inserted, to add the words, "and before the first of January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two."—(The Attorney General.)
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, agreed to.
§ New Clause (Short Title) read a second time and added to Bill.
§ Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.