§ Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet appointed an inspector to police the killing of elephant seals in South Georgia; and how far his duties are to cover humanitarian requirements.
§ Mr. LytteltonI do not consider that the appointment of inspectors is required. One inspector would be unable to supervise the activities of parties operating at different points. I understand that instances of cruelty in the killing of elephant seals are now infrequent and that published accounts may have described conditions some time ago. It should be sufficient if a clause were included in the sealers' annual licence requiring the use of humane killing methods, and I have asked the Acting Governor to consider this.