§ 16. Sir GEORGE GREENWOODasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that there are many complaints in various parts of the country in consequence of the damage done to crops and fruit trees by grubs, caterpillars, and other insects; whether such damage has been caused in great part by the wholesale destruction of birds; and, if so, will he now take steps to disccurage the formation of sparrow-clubs and generally to ensure the preservation of insect-eating birds throughout the country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)The investigations that have been conducted into the food of birds do not lead the Board to conclude that sparrows do habitually feed upon the caterpillars and similar insect pests now damaging the foliage of fruit trees, oaks, etc. The Board do not in consequence fear that any destruction of sparrows which can be effected by sparrow clubs will so injuriously affect the fruit crops as to counterbalance the unquestionable advantages accruing to gram crops that will follow a reduction in their numbers.
§ Sir G. GREENWOODIs the hon. Gentleman aware that sparrow clubs have killed other small birds in large numbers?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe President of the Board asks that they should confine their attention to sparrows.