THE SMALL-BIRDS NUISANCE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7263, 24 January 1889, Page 6

THE SMALL-BIRDS NUISANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sib,—False economy on the part of some Road Boards in not purchasing eggs and the young of small birds will in a year or two lead to the abandonment of graingrowing in portions of Canterbury. The mild winter protected the little pests, and free as they are from disturbance are now making the best of their opportunity in producing thousands of progeny. Surely a few pounds spent in ridding the country of myriads of the worst enemies the farmers have is better expended than on useless works at f _dable rivers or metalling rarely-used roads. It is time the grain growers insisted on some combined action on tbe part of all local governi ments, otherwise the tax, direct and indirect, put on the farmers' resources to cope with the nuisance will render wheatraising a poor game on the Plains. We have now obtained a representative in Mr A. Saunders, who is not afraid of hard work, and would willingly assist not only his own, but other constituencies in obtaining proper legislation to deal with the matr«r. I would suggest that he be approached regarding the subject, and if no other means are available to convene a meeting (as a nucleus) of delegates from the various Road Boards in the Lincoln electorate to ventilate the question, and decide on the most effective manner of dealing with a pest that in a short time will control the grain growing districts, if combination is not adopted. A Sufferer.