THOSE STOATS AND WEASELS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21940, 14 November 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

THOSE STOATS AND WEASELS

How They Game to New Zealand

"Good-bye, Mr. Stoat! Good-bye, Mrs Weasel! You’re to go now. Tour doom is certain. No longer will you feast upon New Zealand birds. No longer will you be permitted to spoil our country.”

Perhaps you read in “The Press” last Tuesday that the Hon. W. E. Parry, the Minister for Internal Affairs in New Zealand’s Parliament, was advocating the extermination of stoats and weasels. Poor Mr Stoat! Poor Mrs Weasel. It wasn't their fault that they ever came to our country; the white man brought them here, but they are so cruel, and they have done so much damage that they must go. As soon, almost, as the white man arrived in New Zealand, he began to introduce the plants, birds, and beasts of the Old Country. Away back in 1840 the French Settlers brought watercress to Akaroa, and the Deans brothers, who founded

Soon, however, it became evident that the stoats and weasls were not going to rid the country of rabbits. They preferred the native birds. In fact, the rabbits and stoats became

so friendly that they sometimes shared the same burrows. At first the stoats and weasels were protected, no one was allowed to kill them; but that was changed long ago. Still, the stoats and weasels continued to increase. It now seems that, unless they are done away with, they will, in time, kill all the native birds. Good-bye! Mr Stoat! Good-bye, Mrs Weasel! SOON WE MAY SEE—

In IM9 the Deans brothers accepted a lift of seme watercress plants the first real home on Canterbury plains, accepted a gift of some plants, and put them in the Avon. The watercress flourished so much that it soon became one of our worst pests.

That was the way with many other plants and animals. Some time in the 70’s rabbits were introduced into New Zealand. Oh, how the rabbits liked our country! They increased by thousands and tens of thousands. They soon took possession of some farms. How to get rid of the rabbits? That was where the stoats and weasels came in. Someone . said that the stoats and weasels would kill the rabbits, and a certain Mr Bones was engaged to travel backward and forward to New Zealand, bringing consignments of the little animals. Mr Bones had many trips; he nursed his charges during the voyage, delivered them safely, and then went back for more.

Why is the dandelion yellow. Do you know? Kathleen Sheat does, and she tells you in the following story. Perhaps you could write a flower story, too, telling why the violet was blue, or why the rose, or some other flower received its name. One evening after a blustery nor’-wester the sun looked like a golden ball. A poor, white dandelion said to herself, “Oh, if only I were yellow, how much happier I would be, for I would be noticed more.” Now, it happened that Lilac, a fairy, was passing, and she heard What was said. She flew swiftly towards the sky, and clutching a handful of yellow, flew back. Reaching the dandelion, Lilac rubbed the yellow on the little flower's face. “There!” she said. “Now you are yellow, and so shall all other dandelions be after you.” —KATHLEEN SHEAT, P.B.H. (aged 9), Bnookside.

We get two “Gay Gazettes” Pages on Saturday now. One is for me and one for my brothers. The “Gay Gazette m is true to its name, for U really is a pA Y paper. —•MATE SILVERMIST, North Beach. Interesting Facts the longest liver la the world to the NBe. adlco lone. the basest etty in the world to Iwden. «lt » pop elation of fIUMHUHUii '