GREY SEALS PROTECTION BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 18 February 1932)

§ LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL
My Lords, this Bill is in substantially the same form as that which passed this House last Session. The Bill introduced in November, 1030, was amended in certain respects during its passage through this House and provisions were introduced to enable the appropriate Minister to regulate the method of slaughter of grey seals in breeding places. These provisions will be found incorporated in subsection (2) of Clause 1 of the Bill. The only difference of substance between the present Bill and last Session's Bill as it left this House, is that in accordance with an Amendment made in another place the close season is to extend from 1st September to 31st December in each year, instead of from 1st October to 15th December. The Bill of 1930 was introduced to follow the Act of 1914 in this matter, but when the point was raised it was agreed by expert opinion that the longer period was more appropriate.
Last year the Bill failed to get through owing to the exigencies of other Parliamentary business and the subsequent Dissolution of Parliament. The Government hope, however, that it may be possible to secure the passage this year of this useful measure and so enable the act of 1914 to be removed from the schedule of the annual Expiring Laws Continuance Act. In view of the debate which took place on the previous Bill I have not thought it necessary to explain again to your Lordships in detail the scope and objects of this Bill: but I shall, of course, be ready, either now or on the Committee Stage, to deal with any points which noble Lords may wish to raise. I beg to move.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)
My Lords, I wish to say only one word in support of this Bill, which I hope your Lordships will pass. I agreed when it was introduced last year, or the year before last, 628 to support it on behalf of the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire. The Society have not passed a resolution in its favour, but as it is practically the same Bill I am sure they will welcome it very heartily. It will make a considerable difference really to put this Bill on the Statute Book instead of renewing every year the Act of 1914. I very much hope that it will pass into law this Session.

§ LORD MOUNT TEMPLE
My Lords, there is only one point that I want to bring to the attention of the House; that is what seems to me the abnormal length of time for which the Order has to lie upon the Table of either House. It is 48 days. My recollection is that the usual period is 28 days. I would ask the House to consider whether, as the Ministry of Agriculture might have to make an Order rather quickly, 48 days might not be too long a time.