§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the torture of albatrosses by starvation, freezing, and strangling on passenger ships en route for Australia and elsewhere; and whether there exists any law for the protection of these birds.
§ MR. RITCHIENo, Sir, my attention has not been drawn to the occurrences referred to. Though I am not in a position to say whether the Act would 848 apply to the case, I may, perhaps, draw the hon. Member's notice to the Wild Animals in Captivity Protection Act of last session.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEIs the Act operative on board an outward bound British vessel?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe hon. Gentleman had better refer to the Act. He will there get more accurate information.