A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20806, 16 March 1933, Page 6

A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP.

SWANS IN WAIMAKARIRI RIVER. When some swans were taken from tho Wainiakariri river by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society's ranger recently, residents of Kaiapoi, it is stated, were highly resentful. Two protests were received at a meeting of the council of the society last night. The Kaiapoi Borough Council expressed its disapproval of the removal of the birds, and wrote that there was a general outburst against the action. The Kaiapoi Beautifying and Burgesses' Association wrote regarding the society's "high-handed action" in removing three swans from the north branch of the Wainiakariri river, and SHid: "We desire them returned at once. The action has called lor an indignant protest by the whole of the Kaiapoi citizens." Mr C. H. Lawrence: I feel that wo should take strong exception to letters of such a nature being sent to the council. "We are prepared to meet the wishes of people who have the welfare, of the propagation of native birds at heart, in a reasonable way, but, as far as I know, they have no juris diction over the birds.

The secretnry (Mr C. W. Htervey): We wero fulfilling orders for tho south! Mr O. J. Hnlsey asked what was meant by "high-handed action by the ranger"? Mr A. A. Boon said that he supported the remarks of Mr Lawrence, but ho believed, he said, said the letters wero written in ignorance of the ownership of the birds. His motion, that Mr Lawrence should draft a reply to the writers, was carried.