§ Bill read 3a (according to Order).
LORD COLVILLE OF CULROSS,who said he had placed an Amendment on the Paper, pointed out that grouse and blackcock shooting commenced on August 20th and ended on December 10, and yet all through the months from December to May blackcock was offered for sale at a shop in the Strand. He might be told that the birds came from Norway; but that was no reason why the law should be evaded, and thus be an inducement to persons to resort to poaching in this country, He would 1470 not move his Amendment because he did not desire to obstruct the passing of the Bill, though it was in an imperfect form.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that he also had an Amendment on the Paper, but for the same reason would not move it. He hoped next Session a Bill amending the law would be brought forward.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, he must thank the noble Earl (Earl Granville) and the noble Lord (Lord Colville) for not impeding the progress of the Bill by inserting Amendments, and so, perhaps, defeating it for this Session, not only in the interest of sport, but in the interest of the consumer. He must state, in justice to the large dealers, that they were in favour of the Bill. He thought the thanks of the House were due to the noble Lord for calling attention to the fact that black game and other birds were sold out of season in London, but that hardly came within the scope of the Bill. Surely, the law was sufficiently stringent now to prevent these illegal sales. If, too, these birds came from Norway, he must remind the noble Lord that the game laws in Norway were far more stringent than our own. He had every hope the Bill would work well. It was drawn on the same lines as the Seabirds Protection Act, and that had worked well. However, he would certainly take the suggestions made by the noble Earl and the noble Lord, and if it did not work well, he would endeavour to deal more completely with the question another year.
§ Bill passed.