§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether large quantities of birds' plumage, including ostrich feathers, are still being shipped into this country in spite of the Proclamation prohibiting such importations; and whether, in view of the shortage of shipping, he will take immediate steps to ensure that the Proclamation is obeyed?
Sir A. STANLEY:The hon. Member is doubtless aware that consignments of goods on the prohibited import list are admitted into the United Kingdom if they can be shown to have been despatched to the consignees in this country or to have been paid for by them on or before the date on which they were prohibited. It is not unlikely that a certain quantity of feathers, which come from a great distance, will continue for some time to arrive under the above conditions.