MORE GAME FOR THE PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 135, 10 June 1925, Page 6

MORE GAME FOR THE PARK.

The news thai the Tongariro Xational Park Sports Club nnd the Acclimatisation Society between them are importing partridges from India moves us to ask what is the policy of the Board controlling the park in respect to animal life and shooting in tbe area under its control. It is stated that the birds would

"provide splendid shooting." We understood, however, that shooting was not to be allowed in the park. What does the Board mean to do about this? Grouse have already been liberated there, though the Board about the same time decided that no more heather should be planted and that what was already there should be rooted out. Xow we have this move to introduce partridges, which seems to us an impertinence. Why should foreign game birds be introduced into the Xational Park? The number of persons who will wish to shoot them will be comparatively small, and if they and allowed to shoot, what will be tbe position of the ordinary visitor to the park? If these birds multiply, it is certain that pressure will be brought to bear on the Board to sanction shooting, and it may even be proposed that in the interests of game preservation access to tho park be restricted. There are wider aspects of the question. Has the Government assured itself that no harm to the farmer will come of the introduction of these birds? Is there any authority whose business it is to make sure that it is safe to introduce animals and plants? Surely Xew Zealand has already suffered sufficiently from the results of unwise acclimatisation that it should view new introductions with the greatest suspicion. The Board controlling the park should take a strong line in this matter. It should make it clear that it will not permit any game birds to be introduced into the park. Acclimatisation societies have become a dangerous nuisance, and they ought to be kept in check severely.