§ Mr. WILLIAM BOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Bombay Chamber of Commerce in 1909 refused to move in favour of the repeal of the Indian Plumage Act on the grounds that the plumage birds, being largely insectivorous, were necessary for the agricultural interests of India, and if it is the intention of the Government, in defiance of this expressed wish of the Indian community, to permit a section of the London Chamber of Commerce to deal in feathers from these birds illicitly exported from India; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. BUXTONI have seen the correspondence which passed in 1909 between the Chambers of Commerce of London and Bombay, in which the latter Chamber refused on the grounds stated in the question to move in favour of the repeal of the notification issued by the Governor of India in 1902 prohibiting the export of plumage with certain exceptions. The matter has for some time been engaging my careful attention, but the difficulties with which it is surrounded, so long as the attempt to deal with the mischief is confined to a single importing country are very great. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has with my concurrence approached the principal commercial countries with a view to an International Conference to consider the possibility of common action. I regret to say, however, that so far the response has not been very encouraging.