DEATH ON HAWKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 164, 13 July 1928, Page 9

DEATH ON HAWKS.

FURTHER ENCOURAGEMENT

GIVEN.

ACCLIMATISATION GRANT.

LESSONS IN SCHOOLS URGED.

it is regrettable that school teachers do not point out in lecturing to children on bird life the destructive nature of hawks so as to create a spirit of youthful antaganisin towards the birds," said Mr. T. S. Withers at last night's meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, during the course of a general discussion on the advisability of increasing activities in the war against hawks.

A Member: I suggest that the boy of

to-day is like the boy of Mr. Withers* time, and it does not matter what a bird is like so long as a stone is handy.

It was reported that £114 had been allocated for hawks' fees since April J, and it was resolved to grant a further £100 to encourage the destruction of the winged pests. It was also decided to offer a prize to school children for the most hawks destroyed, and seek the co-operation of sub-societies in the Putaruru, Hamilton and Matamata districts in efforts to exterminate the pests, which were said to be very plentiful in those localities.

The chairman (Mr. F. E. McKenzie), said the districts mentioned were not likely to get any pheasants next season unless the hawks were destroyed.

Rabbit traps were claimed to be the best means of warring against the birds, and with a view to encouraging their more extensive use, it was decided to present two dozen traps to both the Matamata and Putaruru districts. j