HC Deb 02 April 1936 vol 310 cc2160-2W
Mr. MATHERS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number, and give particulars, of the prosecutions which have taken place under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act since it was passed in 1921; and whether any other cases of suspected smuggling have arisen where prosecutions were not instituted owing to difficulty in obtaining reliable evidence?

List of cases in which legal proceedings were instituted against importers of plumage, the importation of which is prohibited under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921.
Date of prosecution. Quantity and description of plumage. Penalty imposed.
20th February, 1923 119 Kingfisher skins £20 fine plus £31 10s. costs. Fine and costs paid.
13th March, 1923 Five boxes Birds of Paradise skins concealed. Case dismissed. Evidence insufficient against consignees in this country.
20th March, 1923 One fan Lady Amherst Pheasant No conviction recorded. Defendants ordered to pay £21 costs. Costs paid.
10th April, 1923 30 millinery mounts, Peacock, Beeves Pheasant, Falcated Teal. £ 10 fine and £21 costs. Fine and costs paid.
1st May, 1923 One mechanical peacock (made of Peacock feathers). £5 plus £7 7s. costs in respect of each of the four importations.
12 bandeaux (Heron feathers). £49 8s. in all. The fines and costs were paid.
Two mechanical peacocks (made of Peacock feathers).
One hat trimmed with Golden Pheasant and Kingfisher plumage.
3rd October, 1923 12 bundles of four different unknown kinds of Egret feathers. Fined £20 and £2 2s. costs. Fine and costs paid.
18th December, 1923 An assortment of hat mounts, bandeaux and loose feathers for the most part prohibited (including Bird of Paradise, Heron, etc.). Fined £1 1s. and £4 4s. costs. Fine and costs paid.
18th December, 1923 An assortment of feather hat mounts including plumage of the Chinese Greenfinch, Chinese Tit, etc. Fined £1 1s. and £4 4s. costs. Fine and costs paid.
25th February, 1925 325 bundles of Egret plumage Fined £50; fine paid.
8th October, 1925 One Egret wing; 10 bundles Marabou Stork plumage. One bundle Egret plumage. Fined £5; fine paid.
25th May, 1927 50 Egret feathers. Fined £5 and £2 2s. costs. Fine and costs paid.
24th April, 1930 to 1st May. 1930. 239 bundles of Egret feathers £375 plus £25 costs. Fine and costs paid.
30th October, 1930 66 bundles of Aigrettes £100 including costs or three months imprisonment. Fine paid.
16th January, 1931 Bird of Paradise and Egret plumage £100 or six weeks imprisonment. Fine paid.

Mr. MATHERS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will furnish a list of persons or firms who have been permitted to import plumage prohibited entry to this country under the provisions of the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921; for what purposes the permits were granted; and whether any and, if so, which permits still remain in force?

Mr. W. S. MORRISON

Fourteen prosecutions have taken place under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, since it was passed in 1921. No separate record is kept of the cases referred to in the second part of the question.

Dr. BURGIN

I fear that the compilation of the particulars asked for by the hon. Member would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. As to the purpose for which the permits have been granted, I would refer to Section 2 (4) of the Act. Certain permits, for instance to museums and to ornithologists, remain in force.