HC Deb 13 June 1890 vol 345 cc839-40
SIR HUSSEY VIVIAN (Swansea, District)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to an account which appeared in the Daily Graphic of an infringement of the Wild Birds Preservation Act, perpetrated on or about the 24th May on the Island of Grassholme, on the Coast of Pembrokeshire, by certain persons belonging to a steamer called the Sir Richard Fletcher, employed by the War Department as a submarine miners' steamer, in which it is stated that gannets and other sea birds were shot by persons on board the steamer, and that six young men landed and, with the boat's crew, dispersed over the island and began shooting puffins and gulls. The correspondent further says— The gannet eyries were empty, and as I sat by I saw above me the sailors hunting out the puffins from their holes and killing them with sticks, while three men in the costume and with the accent of gentlemen were wandering along the edge of the eyrie, taking the eggs of the gannet from every nest, a bird which only lays one egg; not only so, but one man was taking egg after egg, not with any purpose of preservation, but simply flinging them, as fast as he could gather them, over the cliff, to smash on the rocks below. When, after Sir Richard Fletcher had sailed, I visited the gannets' quarters' I found that of 200 nests within reach only two retained their eggs"; whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the persons by whom these infractions of the law were perpetrated; and whether, if no power exists to punish them by military law, he will cause prosecutions to be instituted against them?

MR. E. STANHOPE

The whole question put by the hon. Member was answered yesterday, and I have nothing to add. There is no intention on the part of Her Majesty's Government to prosecute any persons in respect of what has been done.

SIR H. VIVIAN

I submit that the question was not answered yesterday. I want to know by whom this infringement of the Act was perpetrated; or rather, by whose instructions; and whether no power exists under military law to punish the offenders. If there is power, will he cause a prosecution to be instituted?

MR. E. STANHOPE

I stated that there has been an inquiry into the facts. It is not known who the persons were, and I explained why it was not intended to prosecute.

SIR H. VIVIAN

Will the right hon. Gentlemen furnish the names of the persons who landed, in order that they may be prosecuted if evidence against them can be obtained?

MR. E. STANHOPE

I will consider that question.