§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in the Lomagundi district of Southern Rhodesia, it has been decided by the officials of the British Chartered South Africa Company to exterminate all the big game; whether in pursuance of this policy hunters are allowed to destroy the game to an unlimited extent for the purpose of selling the meat, horns, and tusks; whether one of the few remaining herds of elephants has been completely wiped out; whether the preservation of species is an Imperial concern; whether the officials of the Chartered Company have the power, without reference to the Colonial Office, to order or permit the total destruction of the game over vast areas of British territory; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY, Liverpool, Abercromby)The Administrator of Southern Rhodesia in April last authorised the destruction of elephants in the district of Lomagundi except within the Urungwe game sanctuary. He has power to do this under an Ordinance of 1906, when he is satisfied that such destruction is in the interest of public safety. Complaints of the damage and danger caused by these elephants have been made for some time past. The Secretary of State is not in a position to interfere with the exercise of the discretion which the law has vested in the local administration.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD; I presume the Colonial Office put some limit on the destruction of these animals?
§ COLONEL SEELYWe have to protect that species as we have also to protect human lives.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIS the Under-Secretary aware that these elephants are more respectable animals than the persons by whom they are destroyed?
§ [No Answer was returned.]