§ MR. BORLASEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the evidence adduced at the Yealmpton Police Court with regard to the discovery of Colorado beetles in South Devon; and, whether he has considered if the line of £5 imposed by the magistrates provides an adequate protection to the agricultural interests of the district against the possible consequences of the preservation of that insect?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have been requested to answer this Question, Colorado beetles being in my Department. The history of the case referred to by my hon. Friend is as follows:—On the 5th instant the deputy chief constable of Devon telegraphed to the Clerk of the 631 Council that a man near Plymouth was in possession of some live Colorado beetles, which he refused to give up, that there was no power to apprehend, and asked for instructions. A telegraphic reply was immediately sent to the effect that the Destructive Insects' Act of 1877 and the Order passed under that Act provided for the imposition of penalties in such cases. Copies of the Act and Order were forwarded to him by that night's post. On the 7th instant the Home Office sent us a letter from the clerk of the justices of the petty sessions division on the subject. We gave him the same information as was given to the deputy chief constable. On the 10th instant we received an official intimation that the defendant had been convicted and fined £5, the maximum penalty of £10 having been mitigated, as he pleaded ignorance of the law and proved that the beetles had been destroyed.