AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MILLINERY TRADE. 



(Reprinted, with additions, from "The Millinery Trades Journal," May, 1921.) 



The Editor of " The Millinery Trades Journal " invites me to say a few words 

 in his columns with reference to the Bills for prohibiting the Plumage of Wild Birds 

 into this country. 



Frankly, I think the public do not wish for any more discussion of the plumage 

 question, either in or out of Parliament. They are nauseated with the whole subject. 

 It has been discussed from every point of view, especially durmg the last twelve 

 years, since Lord Avebury's Bill was passed by the House of Lords after the hearmg 

 of a vast amount of evidence before a Select Committee. They have heard the facts 

 and opinions given by scientific authorities of world-wide reputation, and they 

 have heard the Trade replies. Probably the character of the replies even more than 

 the incontrovertible facts accounts for the verdict fully registered by all who have 

 listened to both sides. 



A Costly Trade. 



On the one hand we have ornithologists, travellers, scientific men, philosophers, 

 and men of the world all agreeing that the Trade in the skins and feathers of Wild 

 Birds 



(a) is appallingly destructive of bird life ; 



(b) is and has been throughout its existence accompanied by callous 

 cruelty ; 



(c) threatens^the health and prosperity of countries where the birds are 

 destroyed ; 



(d) is inimical to manufacturing industries in our country; 



(e) employs an infinitely small amount of labour in proportion to the 

 profits reaped by a small body of men who get their " material " at a price 

 extremely cheap to themselves, but extremely costly to the world at large ; 



(f) produces nothing of value to the health, comfort, or well-being of the 

 community. 



