47

A.—2

llT.— Life-saving Appliances. The principles to be enforced with regard to life-saving appliances to be carried, the types of boats and other life-saving appliances to be accepted, and the arrangements for surveying, stowing, launching, and handling the boats and other appliances. IV.— Safety of Navigation. The principles to be adopted with regard to the control of navigation and safety-warnings, including wireless telegraphy, signals, assistance to ships in distress, warnings as to ice and derelicts' steamship routes, &c.

No. 56. New Zealand, No. 301. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth August, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a Bill which has been introduced into the House of Commons entitled the " Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1913." I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c. Enclosure. A Bill to prohibit the Importation of the Plumage and Skins of Wild Birds, and to amend the Enactments relating to the Protection of Wild Birds, and for other purposes incidental thereto. Be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice, and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— 1. (1.) Subject to the exceptions in this Act contained, a person shall not import into the United Kingdom the plumage of any wild bird, and accordingly section forty-two of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, shall be read as if there were included in the table of prohibitions and restrictions therein The plumage of wild birds as denned by the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1913, subject to the exceptions contained in that Act." (2.) A person shall not have in his possession or be concerned in selling the plumage of any wild bird which has been imported in contravention of this Act, or which, having been allowed to be imported on the ground that it is being put to a certain use or intended to be put to a certain use, is being put to some other use ; and if any person has in his possession or is concerned in sellinoany such plumage, he shall be liable on conviction under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts to a fine not exceeding five pounds in respect of the first offence and twenty-five pounds in respect of the second or any subsequent offence, and the Court before whom he is convicted may order the forfeiture or destruction of any plumage in respect of which the offence has been committed. 2. (1.) The following plumage is excepted. from the prohibition on importation under this Act: (a.) The plumage of birds for the time being included in the Schedule to this Act : (b.) The plumage of birds imported alive : (c.) The plumage of birds imported under a license granted under this Act for the purpose of supplying specimens for any natural history or other museum, or for the purpose of scientific research : (d.) Plumage forming part of wearing apparel being bona fide the property of, and actually in the personal use of or intended for the personal use of, any person entering the United Kingdom : (c.) The plumage of wild birds ordinarily used as articles of diet and imported for that purpose. (2.) His Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time add the name of any bird to the Schedule to this Act or remove the name of any bird from that Schedule. (3.) The Board of Trade may grant a license under such conditions and regulations as they think fit to any person to import specimens of birds for any natural history or other museum, or for the purpose of scientific research. (4.) Any importer claiming an exemption under this section for any plumage on the ground that it is to be put to a certain use shall deliver to an officer of Customs and Excise, if required by any such officer, on importation a written declaration of the purpose for which it is imported. 3. Where the Court is satisfied, in any proceedings under this Act, that any plumage is the plumage of a bird which is never or rarely found alive in a wild state in the United Kingdom, the plumage shall be deemed to be imported in contravention of this Act unless the contrary is proved. 4. An Order may be made by the Secretary of State, or the Secretary for Scotland, or the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, under sections eight and nine of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, and

Enclosure. A Bill to prohibit the Importation of the Plumage and Skins of Wild Birds, and to amend the Enactments relating to the Protection of Wild Birds, and for other purposes incidental thereto. Be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice, and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. (1.) Subject to the exceptions in this Act contained, a person shall not import into the United Kingdom the plumage of any wild bird, and accordingly section forty-two of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, shall be read as if there were included in the table of prohibitions and restrictions therein _ " The plumage of wild birds as denned by the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1913, subject to the exceptions contained in that Act." (2.) A person shall not have in his possession or be concerned in selling the plumage of any wild bird which has been imported in contravention of this Act, or which, having been allowed to be imported on the ground that it is being put to a certain use or intended to be put to a certain use, is being put to some other use ; and if any person has in his possession or is concerned in sellinoany such plumage, he shall be liable on conviction under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts to a fine not exceeding five pounds in respect of the first offence and twenty-five pounds in respect of the second or any subsequent offence, and the Court before whom he is convicted may order the forfeiture or destruction of any plumage in respect of which the offence has been committed. 2. (1.) The following plumage is excepted. from the prohibition on importation under this Act :— (a.) The plumage of birds for the time being included in the Schedule to this Act : (b.) The plumage of birds imported alive : (c.) The plumage of birds imported under a license granted under this Act for the purpose of supplying specimens for any natural history or other museum, or for the purpose of scientific research : (d.) Plumage forming part of wearing apparel being bona fide the property of, and actually in the personal use of or intended for the personal use of, any person entering the United Kingdom: (c.) The plumage of wild birds ordinarily used as articles of diet and imported for that purpose. (2.) His Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time add the name of any bird to the Schedule to this Act or remove the name of any bird from that Schedule. (3.) The Board of Trade may grant a license under such conditions and regulations as they think fit to any person to import specimens of birds for any natural history or other museum, or for the purpose of scientific research. (4.) Any importer claiming an exemption under this section for any plumage on the ground that it is to be put to a certain use shall deliver to an officer of Customs and Excise, if required by any such officer, on importation a written declaration of the purpose for which it is imported. 3. Where the Court is satisfied, in any proceedings under this Act, that any plumage is the plumage of a bird which is never or rarely found alive in a wild state in the United Kingdom, the plumage shall be deemed to be imported in contravention of this Act unless the contrary is proved. 4. An Order may be made by the Secretary of State, or the Secretary for Scotland, or the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, under sections eight and nine of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, and