§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is illegal for game dealers in the United Kingdom, either wholesale or retail, to sell English game after 10th February which has been killed and bought before the close time (1st February) and consigned to cold-air stores in this King-don;, in view of the fact that foreign game can be sold all the year round; and, in the affirmative case, would he consider whether it would be possible to allow game dealers in this country to sell British and Irish game after close time on production, when challenged, of the cold-air stores delivery notes; and what proof is at present given that so-called foreign game exposed for sale after 10th February is what it professes to be?
§ MR. COLLINGSThe main question is one of law, which the Secretary of State has no authority to decide; and he is not aware that there is any binding decision of a court of law on the point. With regard to the last paragraph of the Question, the Secretary of State is not aware that there is anything in this matter to require a particular kind of evidence. The foreign origin of game would have to be proved, like any other fact, by the person on whom the burden lay.