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Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22501, 8 September 1938, Page 10

According to a letter received by ‘‘Evening Post” from a correspondent of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, who lives on the West Coast of the South Island, native bird life in South Westland is being quickly killed out. The correspondent states: “The delinquents are the employees of Public Works camps, which extend right from Weheka (Fox glacier) to Jackson’s Bay. This has been all virgin country until recently. We know by bitter exporience how every new road, every new bridge and track on the West Coast spells death to the birds, especially pigeons. In South Westland, the marauders are from the cities (they are not ‘Coasters’). Guns are in every camp, sporting guns. There are plenty of deer to shoot, of course, but their interest is not in these. They are shooting out the pigeons right from the Waiho to Milford Sound. The only way to protect the birds is to protect them where theyare and South Westland was the last stronghold of the birds’ liberty and peace. It is maddening to think that these southern sanctuaries are now being burst open by a mob who will play havoc with these, quiet citizens of the forest who have remained unmolested for centuries.” The president of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, Captain E, V. Sanderson, stated at a meeting of the committee that he had brought this matter under the notice of the Hon. R. Semple, Minister for Public Works, who had expressed deep concern at the reported slaughter of pigeons,' and had undertaken to have an investigation made.