THE EARL OF JERSEY, in moving that this Bill be read a second time, said that it was brought in at the instance of the Middlesex County Council, and the object of it was to amend the Act of 1880, under which the Secretary of State had power to declare a close time during which wild birds should not be shot, by enlarging the time mentioned in the Act. The county of Middlesex suffered greatly from eruptions of a certain class of sportsmen, who went out on Saturdays and Sundays and shot birds in the hedgerows, to the great inconvenience, and even to the danger, of the inhabitants. The effect of the Bill would be to give the Secretary of State power, on a County Council passing a resolution with that object, to extend the close time beyond the breeding season. He understood that the Government approved of the general object of the Bill, subject to certain Amendments to be moved in Committee. The promoters of the Bill would be only too glad to adopt any Amendment which would make the Bill easier to work, if the principle of the measure met with the approval of the House.
§ Bill read 2a.