PLUMAGE TRIMMING TO HATS GAINED BY CRUELTY

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 February 1947, Page 7

PLUMAGE TRIMMING TO HATS GAINED BY CRUELTY

The question of plumage trimming on women’s hats has come up for discussion again. Lord Simon, speaking in the House of Lords recently had something to say on the matter. He said that women who wear hats with the plumage of birds of paradise and egrets, are guilty of condoning the utmost cruelty. The fact, unknown to many is that the birds assume the plumage only for the nuptial period and when their young leave the nest the plumage disappears Lord Simon added that he believed the kind of gentlewoman attending the hat shows would be horrified if they know they were being invited to adorn themselves by cruelties such as were perpetrated to obtain the feathers. He asked what efforts were being made to enforce the Plumage Act of 1921, prohibiting the importation of the plumage of rare birds. He was supported by othe” peers, one of whom stated that the feathers could be bought with impunity in London. In replying for the Government, a member said the Plumage Act was suspended in 1940. but was replaced by an order prohibiting plumage imports. It was thought possible that largo stocks previously imported were now being used when ph mage had become the fashion again.