THE MARQUESS OF AILESBURYMy Lords, L beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Viceroy of India's attention has been drawn to the public statement that part of the equipment of the new Imperial Cadet Corps is to consist of a saddle cloth of the skin of the snow leopard, and whether in view of the 1164 fact that this animal is not only rare but practically harmless, instructions will be given to His Excellency to prevent this wanton slaughter and extermination.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (The Earl of HARD-WICKE)In reply to the first part of the noble Marquess's Question, the equipment of this corps is entirely in the hands of the Viceroy. As to the further Question. I am afraid I cannot give my noble friend any assurance that the Secretary of State will interfere with the Viceroy's discretion in the matter; but I may mention that the Imperial Cadet Corps only consists of twenty officers, that the skins referred to were purchased by the Government, as they heard that this consignment was in the market, and that therefore no snow leopards were killed for the purpose of securing these skins. With regard to the harmless nature of the animal, I think that is an open question.