AUCKLAND PIGEONS FIND FRIENDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 19

AUCKLAND PIGEONS FIND FRIENDS

“The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, Feb. 16. A man who regards pigeons on the Ferry Building on Prince’s Wharf as pests and would have them destroyed has failed to find an ally on the property and health committee of the Auckland City Council. The committee has decided to take no action after receiving a letter referred to the council by the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. B. W. Christmas). The writer of the letter said he could not understand why pigeons were protected. "They will increase as long as silly people, like the man under the Ferry Buildings, feed them,’’ he wrote. “I wish someone would stop him doing so, either politely or forcibly. “I have complained about this matter before but things are just as bad. This man had his photograph in the papers not long ago as if he wag a hero.” Recommending that no action should be taken ,the City Engineer (Mr A. J. Dickson) said pigeons had worldwide protection. Thousands of people derived considerable pleasure from feeding them daily.

“Many birds and domestic animals foul footpaths and at times create insanitary and offensive conditions.’’ Mr Dickson said, “but no sane person would suggest their destruction.’’ Of the hundreds of infectious cases investigated in Auckland, Mr Dickson said, none had been traced to the carrying of disease by pigeons.