Lords Sitting of 23 May 1827

SALE OF GAME BILL.
The Marquis of Salisbury said,he had to propose to their lordships a bill to permit the Sale of Game under certain restrictions. He thought it well worthy of the consideration of their lordships, to see whether they could not, by some measure, not interfering with the principle of the Game-laws, put a stop to the increasing crime of poaching. He thought the bill which he held in his hand would have such an effect. The bill proposed to legalize the sale of game, and to do so in the most extended manner, by giving a power to all persons qualified by law to kill game, to take out a certificate, empowering them to sell game to licensed dealers. He thought it but fair, that those who had as much land as qualified them to kill game for their own use, should be allowed to make a profit by the sale of game. If that were allowed, it would have the effect of diminishing the crime of poaching. The bill was introduced as a temporary measure. Its operation would expire at the end of three years; and then their lordships might consider whether any better system could be established. If he succeeded in making the sale of game legal, he thought the temptation to the poacher to commit crime would be greatly reduced; as he would be met in the market by a competitor, who would not. be liable to any of the consequences to which the poacher was subject. He had another reason for introducing the present measure. Some few years ago, the poulterers of the metropolis came to the resolution of discontinuing the sale of game to their customers. What was the consequence? The poulterers lost their customers, and some of them were nearly ruined. They were at last forced to give way, and again resort to illegal means to obtain game. He was convinced that, however great might be the determination of their lordships to prevent the sale of game, they could not, by any legislative enactment, effect their purpose. In consequence of the abolition of the use of spring guns, much greater facilities would be afforded to the poacher in his illegal practices than he before enjoyed. If game was to be preserved at all, it must be by men, and men alone; but it was very difficult to get any men who would attack the

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night-poachers, and next to an impossibility to collect a sufficient number of them for that purpose. Since, therefore, the endeavour to amend the poacher, by deterring him from crime, could no longer be made, the only way left open was, by diminishing the temptation to crime. Now, he did not know of any way to diminish the temptation which could be so effectual as to bring a competitor with the poacher into the market, who had no occasion to sell game to provide for his subsistence. He should move the first reading of the bill.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.