20493
22
No. 17. AUSTRALIA.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. (Confidential (2).)
MY LORD,
Downing Street, 9 October, 1913. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 457, of the 8th August,* I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copies of despatches which I addressed on the 31st July to the Officers Administering the Governments of Canada, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfound- land, suggesting the passing of legislation in those Dominions for the prohibition of the export of the plumage or skins of non-edible birds.
2. I shall be glad if you will express to your Ministers my regret that by an oversight these despatches were not communicated to them at the time.
I have, &c.,
L. HARCOURT.
SIR,
28
Enclosure in No. 19.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
St. John's, Newfoundland,
17th October, 1913. REFERRING to Your Excellency's memorandum of date 10th August with Confidential (2) despatch from the Secretary of State of date 31st July, in relation to the prohibition of the export of the plumage or skins of non-edible birds, I have the honour to intimate that the Department of Justice reports that there is no legis- lation at present on our statute book dealing with this subject, and in their opinion such is not necessary, as there are no plumage birds in this country. The fact, how- ever, is noted that under Cap. 144 of the Consolidated Statutes, Second Series, as amended, the exportation or sale as an article of commerce of willow grouse or partridge is prohibited.
I have, &c.,
His Excellency
Walter E. Davidson, Esq., C.M.G., &c., &c., &c.,
Governor.
J. R. BENNETT,
Colonial Secretary.
41746
No. 18.
GREEK MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS to HIS MAJESTY'S
MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE,
MINISTER AT ATHENS.
Athènes, le 29 Octobre, 1913. Ex réponse à la lettre que vous avez bien voulu m'adresser le 13 Octobre (30 Septembre) dernier, j'ai l'honneur de porter à votre connaissance que le Gouvernement Royal ne peut, à son grand regret, se départir de la décision qu'il avait prise de ne point prendre part à une Convention Internationale tendant à prohiber l'importation du plumage et des peaux d'oiseaux sauvages, et ce pour les raisons qui ont été exposées à Votre Excellence par la Note No. 8102 du 24 Mars/6 Avril, 1912.
Néanmoins, profitant de l'offre obligeante que vous avez bien voulu formuler dans votre dernière Note, je me hâte de vous faire savoir que le Gouvernement Hellénique accueillera avec empressement toute communication que vous jugerez utile de lui faire, dans l'avenir, sur les points qui serviront de base à l' arrangement international projeté.
Veuillez agréer, &c.,
Son Excellence
Sir Francis Elliot,
Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plénipotentiaire
de Sa Majesté Britannique,
à Athènes.
D. E. PANAS.
38009
SIR,
No. 20.
NEW ZEALAND.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 3 November, 1913.)
(Confidential.)
Government House, Wellington, 25th September, 1913. WITH reference to your despatch, Confidential, of the 31st July,* relative to the question of the prohibition of the export of plumage or skins of non-edible birds,
I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister on the subject.
2. It will be observed that the Solicitor-General of this Dominion is being asked to advise whether any amendment in the existing law is required to meet the desire of His Majesty's Government, and that, should an amendment be required, a Bill will be introduced into Parliament this Session.
I have, &c.,
LIVERPOOL,
Governor.
37815
SIR,
No. 19.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1 November, 1913.)
(Confidential.)
Government House, St. John's, 22 October, 1913.
In reply to your Confidential (2) despatch of the 31st July last,† in relation to the prohibition of the export of the plumage or skins of non-edible birds, I have the honour to transmit copy of a letter received from the Colonial Secretary on the subject.
I have, &c.,
W. E. DAVIDSON.
† No. 15.
Enclosure in No. 20.
MEMORANDUM FOR HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
With reference to Confidential despatch from the Secretary of State, upon the subject of the protection of plumage birds, the Prime Minister presents his compli- ments and begs to inform His Excellency that Section 31 of the Animals Protection Act, 1908, referred to in the despatch, has been amended by Section 8 of the Animals Protection Amendment Act, 1910, and the export of the skin or feathers of any native game is now prohibited without the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Under Section 10 of the Animals Protection Amendment Act, 1910, any person who destroys or injures or captures any bird which is indigenous to New Zealand, or who robs or destroys the nest of any such bird, is liable to a fine not exceeding £20, and there is no power to authorise any person to take or export indigenous birds unless they are native game.
Section 35 of the Animals Protection Act, 1908, which deals with birds in possession reads as follows :-
"(1) Except as provided in this Act, no person shall have in his possession any imported game or native game, or the eggs of any birds mentioned
• No. 15.
* 27693: not printed.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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