WHO KILLED THE CITY PIGEONS?

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 6

WHO KILLED THE CITY PIGEONS?

A MYSTERY ELUCIDATED Tho mysterious poisoning of the pigeons which used to frequent Brandon Street was explained in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning when Laurence Blythe, secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, wag charged with throwing poisoned wheat in Brandon Street on February 28. Sub-Inspector Cummings said that the only thing the police were concerned about was the laying of poison in a public place. The pigeons did not belong 1 to anyone, and were a perfect nuisance. _ Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, who appeared for the accused, explained that the . defendant had acted under instructions from the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He produced the resolutions which had been passed upon the matter, and said that the U.S.A, had taken action in consequence of repeated complaints from its tenants in the building. The pigeons had made conditions disgusting about the building, and clients could not go in and out of the offices without a risk of having their clothinf’ ruined. Complaints had. been made to” the City Council, which had replied to the effect that the birds belonged to no one, and that the R.g.A. could take what steps it liked to abate the nuisance. The circumstances did not disclose any desire to do wrong and he .contended that there was no danger to anvtTiing but the • pigeons through the poisoned wheat which had been laid, lhe pigeons had become an intolerable nuisance. , , , . Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: I once heard a Dunedin man say that the only pretty things in Wellington were the pigeons. Proceeding. Mr. Treadwell said that no offence would have been committed bv the U.S.A, if the poisoned wheat had been laid on the roof of the building. After hearing the evidence ot the defendant the Magistrate said that, people must not take the law into their own hands. A fine of 20s. and costs was imposed. .