PROTECTED BIRDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 8

PROTECTED BIRDS.

COLLECTORS' PERMITS

REPLY TO MINISTER. MR. E. F. STEAD DEFENDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Heplics to the statement by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, defending the policy of the Department in restricting the issue of collcctors' permits for taking protected birds and referring to claims made by Mr. E. P. Stead at the annual meeting of tho Royal Society of New Zealand, were made to-day by Dr. P. W. Hilgendorf, president of the Canterbury branch of tho society, and Mr. R. A. Falla, curator of the Canterbury Museum.

Dr. Hilgendorf 6aid that Mr. Stead had spoken not on his own behalf, but as tho accredited representative of the Canterbury branch •of the society, and ho expressed approval of the taking of a small number of birds by authorised students.

Mr. Falla dealt with the Minister's statement that "lie wondered just what interest Mr. Stead had in the granting of permits for museums," and outlined the work done by Mr. Stead as honorary curator of tho birds and eggs at the museum.

"The statement by the Minister on the granting by his Department of per- ! mits to collect New Zealand birds seems to take tho view that Mr. Stead was speaking for himself in his remarks at the meeting of the Royal Society of New Zealand," said Dr. Hilgendorf. "I would like to state that this is not the case. Tiie Canterbury branch of the society has long taken the view that the best means of protecting bird life is to imbue as many persons as possible with a love of birds, and that one of the best ways of doing this is to increase the general knowledge of thenkinds and habits. To this end it approves the taking of a small number of birds by authorised students, so long as there is a full guarantee that the captures are going to do no harm. Concern Expressed. "The Royal Society of New Zealand at its 1937 meeting therefore offered the Department a committee of speciallists in bird life to advise it on the granting of permits and, on this being declined, the Canterbury branch at its meeting in September last passed the following resolution: 'That the council of Wie Royal Society of New Zealand (Canterbury branch) views with concern tho fact that decisions relating to wild life are being made without reference to any scientific authority or informed opinion, and urges tho standing committee of the society to 'take up with the Government the recommendations regarding wild life control, which have alreday been drafted by its subcommittee/

"While I have 110 doubt that Mr. Stead will be able to make his own reply to the statement made in Auckland by the Minister, I feel that it is necessary to make clear the nature of Mr. Stead's, association with the Canterbury Museum/' said Mr. Falla. "There may be others who share the doubts expressed by Mr. Parry when he said that he wondered just what interest Mr. Stead had in the granting of permits for museums. Mr. Stead's official connection with the museum is that of honorary curator of birds and'eggs. To suggest or infer that he is furthering his own interests as a private collector by speaking on behalf of a public museum is to cast a reflection on the conduct of the museum as well as on Mr. Stead's motives."