§ MR. SETON-KARR (St Helens)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations for the protection of big game in South Africa and British West Africa arc now in force; and if any game reserves have been established in those colonies; and, if so, will he state their locality and extent, and by what means is their sanctity enforced.
(Answer.) Ordinances or Proclamations have been passed in each of the British West African Colonies and Protectorates for the protection of wild animals. Power is taken in these Ordinances or Proclamations to establish game reserves, but none have yet been constituted. Regulations under the Ordinances and Proclamations are being drawn up, and have been made in the Gold Coast on the 22nd of April last for the Colony, Ashanti, and the Northern Territories separately. References to the Ordinances and Proclamations are given below—
Gambia Ordinance No. 1 of 1901 Sierra Leone Ordinance No. 30 of 1901 Gold Coast Ordinance No. 2 of 1901 Lagos Ordinance No. 15 of 1900 Southern Nigeria Proclamation No. 8 of 1901 Northern Nigeria Proclamation No. 15 of 1901
§ The present law of Cape Colony on the subject of game preservation is contained in Acts Nos. 36 of 1886, 38 of 1891, 24 of 1894, and 33 of 1899; that of Natal in Act No. 16 of 1891; that of Southern Rhodesia in Ordinance No. 6 of 1899; and that of the Bechuanaland Protectorate in the High Commissioner's Proclamation of the 19th September 1893. His Majesty's Government are in communication with the South African Governments with regard to the steps to be taken for carrying out the provisions of the Convention 419 for the Preservation of Wild Animals, etc., in South Africa, one of the provisions of which relates to the establishment, as far as possible, of reserves.—(Colonial Office.)