GIFT OF MALLARD DUCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 12

GIFT OF MALLARD DUCK

MR. C. A. WHITNEY'S OFFER DISCUSSION AT TE AROHA [BV TELEGRAPH —OWJJ CORRESPONDENT TE AROHA, Friday The offer of Mr. C. A. Whitney, the well-known sportsman, to make a gift of 75 pairs of wild Mallard duck for liberation in New Zealand, and the Government's refusal to allow the gift to be accepted, -caused considerable discussion at the meeting of the Te Aroha Acclimatisation Society. In explaining the position the president, Mr. J. M. Cochrane, said that Mr. Whitney intended importing these birds from America to ensure the correct type being secured. The offer had originally been made to the parent body in Auckland, where it had a mixed reception, it being contended that the Mallard was in the habit of producing crossbreeds or "mongrel duck" of an undesirable type. Since then, however, Mr. Whitney had fairly conclusively proved that in its wild state the Mallard produced only the pure sporting strain. Subsequently his offer had been made to the Paeroa Society and accepted, but the Minister of Internal Affairs had since refused a permit for the birds to be imported. Mr. Whitney was now seeking the support of all country branches iu pressing for the permit to be granted. After considerable discussion members generally agreed that it was in the interests of sport that the bird* be allowed to enter ,the country for liberation, and it was resolved to petition the Minister'asking ..that a permit be granted^