WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. (Hansard, 3 March 1904)

*THE MARQUESS OF GRANBY
My Lords, this is an extremely short Bill and one which I am sure will commend itself to your Lordships' favourable consideration. It has already passed the House of Commons, and is of so simple a character that it hardly requires any explanation at my hands. The object of the Bill is to render illegal the use of the pole trap, which is a steel spring trap with teeth, generally fastened by a chain to the top of a pole in a clearing of a wood. I do not think the use of this particular trap is of the slightest value with regard to the preservation of game, and it is a kind of trap which it is most desirable should be banned permanently from use. There is only one provision in the Bill to which I personally take some slight exception, and I am authorised to say by those who in the first instance promoted this measure that they are quite willing to eliminate that provision from the Bill when it reaches the Committee stage, should your Lordships see fit to give it a Second Reading. I refer to the advisability of deleting the word "wall." It is necessary very often for farmers and others to get rid of that most pestilent animal the rat; and the only means they have in some places of catching rats is by placing traps on walls or runs over walls. Therefore, if this measure should be fortunate enough to meet with your Lordships' approval, I shall at a future stage move the omission of that word. I bag to move.

§ *LORD TWEEDMOUTH
My Lords, I agree with the noble Marquess that the 5 old-fashioned pole trap with which this Bill deals is a cruel one, and one the use of which could well be abolished; but I think the Bill goes rather too far. The first clause proposes that from and after the passing of the Bill," every person who, on any pole, tree, wall, fence, or other position elevated from the ground, shall affix, place, or set any spring trap, gin, or other similar instrument calculated to cause bodily injury to any wild bird coming in contact therewith," and so on. I think that is a very large proposal, and I would suggest the omission of the words "wall, fence, or other position elevated from the ground." I think the effect of the provision as it stands would be largely to prohibit trapping altogether, and I hope, when the Bill is in Committee, the noble Marquess will consent to some further Amendment on the lines I have suggested.

*THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (The Earl of ONSLOW)
My Lords, I have nothing to say with regard to the principles of this Bill except that it has been under the consideration of the Home Office, and I am desired by my right hon. friend the Home Secretary to say that, as far as the Home Office is concerned, they have no objection to the Bill. Of course, if your Lordships make any Amendments in it, it is possible they may necessitate further consideration; but as at present advised the Home Office have no objection to offer to the Bill.