BIRD PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 4

BIRD PROTECTION

PUKEKO AND PARADISE DUCK

DEPUTATION OPPOSES OPEN SEASON

MINISTER QUOTES SUPPORT OF PROPOSAL

A deputation, representing bird protection, farming, forestry, and other interests, waited on the Minister of Interna! Affairs (tho Hon. W□ownie Stewart) on Saturday to make representations concerning the proposed lifting of the protection on certain native birds, and to protest particularly against an open season for pukeko and paradise duck.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who led the deputation, deplored the disappearance from the North Island of native birds, such as the hui«, the blue and yellow wattle crow, the saddleback, and the paradise duck. Parliament had from time to time passed legislation to regulate the amount of shooting, but the legislation had been found to he inadequate. It was strange that, though both Houses agreed on imposing restrictions, the Minister could remove them, through pressure brought to bear on him by a number of men, to have the season opened. If the legislation was to be reversed, ho hoped it would bo only with the approval of the Cabinet. Nevsrtheless, the deputation thought it should not be reversed. It was contended that tho birds were in enormous numbers, but there was no evidence of that, beyond the testimony of a few individuals. The deputation would ask tho Minister seriously to consider transferring some birds to the absolutely protected lists; the protection of others should not be lifted except in localities where they were very numerous. Paradise duck were fast disappearing in South Otago, where the greatest poachers in New Zealand were —men who dynamited fish in the rivers, and to whom many bush fires were attributed. The protection should not be lifted except in a few places, such .as Styx and the Mackenzie Country. Captain Sanderson, who claimed to be a shot of 30 years’ and an. honorary ranger of 12 years’ experience, said that whoever shot at pukeko was not a sportsman—the birds were poorly equipped to elude the gun; they rose to a slow, easy shot, and were not regarded as pood eating. / They were useful to the farmers, in that they fed chiefly on grubs and beetles. The acclimatisation societies talked loudly about farmers’ interests, but it was his opinion that the interests of the societies did not by any means coincide with those of the farmers. The onlv damage done by the pukeko was that they took straw from tho stacks occasionally.

Acclimatisation Society and Snortsmen. “I have shot over New Zealand,” said this speaker, “from the West Coast to Hokianga, and I have never come across tho paradise duck in plentiful numbers.--- The acclimatisation cieties have not the support of shooters in general, and they are looked on by poachers, as a joke. Their committees are elected with only a few. people present", who mainly representfishing interests. They’re after the license 1 fee, rather than anything else.” vMr. A. L. Hunt, of the Forestry League, said that that body recognised the importance of tho subject by putting among its objects the protection of birds, which were a factor in the generation and propagation of forests. Other agricultural countries were more awake to the value of birds to the farmers; the damage the birds did to insect pests outweighed tho toll they took of the grain. Poison for Paradise Duck. Mr. E. C. Jack, secretary of tho Forestry League, quoted front correspondence he had received, to show that paradise duck were diminishing. Some farmers had laid poison, on account of the damage done to their crops; their theory was that it. was better to have a shooting season than to resort to this expedient. Although a shorfseason might frighten the birds away, it was a dangerous precedent, unless restricted to a particular district. The league was seriously considering the position, and th© feeling was that care should be taken before transferring birds from tho absolutely protected to the partially protected list Mr. C. H. Treadwell referred to the scarcity of black swan and paradise duck. He thought there was no doubt that pukeko were increasinghe saw them in tho Lakes district in greater numbers than ever before, but they were not being sought after for sport in the same manner as swan and paradise duck. He was a member of a society that ceased its activities when war broke out. Its purpose. was to set aside sanctuaries for birds in localities where there was a danger of the bush being cut out. If a combination of such societies were made, they might be able to secure tho balance at "credit of his society. . (Laughter .) Tho preservation of the birds and forests "was essential to New Zealand, as they formed the chief attraction to tourists, as well as tho residents of tho Dominion. Mr. R. D. McLean, president of tho Navy League, supported tho proposal to make more stringent the regulations about indiscriminate shooting of game and native birds. Better, ho said, that New Zealand should have its ’birds in their native strongholds than in glass cases in tho Imperial Institute, London, where ho had seen the huia.

THE MINISTER’S REPLY Societies Support Open Season. The Minister said he was glad to have met the deputation, and he congratulated the members of it upon the stops they had taken to preserve bird life Nobody was more anxious than he to do that. If they did not regard him as the arch-villain of tho present plot, he honed to become a member of their society. (Laughter.) The Government was determined to do the. best it could. He had before him a notice it nroposod inserting in the Gazette, drawing attention to the provisions of tho Animals and Game Protection Act, and earnestly requesting tho pcnnle to assist in preserving game and birds. Such a notice had not been issued for many years, and a. thorough list had now been prepared. Ho had held back tho notification in regard to a short season for pukeko and paradise duck, as h.e wished not to take final action before hearing what the deputation had to say. Thomas Mackenzie has said

that a great deal of pressure has been brought to bear on me, to proclaim an open season, but it is not a question of pressure,” said tho Minister. “So far as I am concerned, I would not mind, any amount of pressure, but it is a question of the weight of the evidence I have, as to tho best method of assisting to preserve bird life.. I have to 'be guided by tho evidence that comes to our department from all quarters. It is peculiarly a South Island problem, as Sir Thomas Mackenzie has told us that paradise, duck aro almost extinct in the North Island. During the last two years I have been receiving evidence from the acclimatisation societies, from settlers, and from such keen bird men as Mr. Edgar Stead. This evidence is unanimous that the best method of preservation is by a short open season. I would like to show you samples of the. evidence, on which I am bound to act, in the absence, of contradiction of it. Mr. Stead is a keen ornithologist, and I have been guided by his advice in drawing up the schedule of the Act, two years ago.”

Opinions of South island. Tho Minister quoted reports from his files, and said that Mr. Stead was in agreement with tho views of the acclimatisation societies. Southland considered that a short season would be in the interests of the ducks, which wore very numerous in the back country. Ha had communicated 'with the Otago Society, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and done everything he could to get both sides of the case. Otago had replied that it was strongly of \opinion that there should be a short, 'season, with limited bag, for paradise duck and pukeko. ’There were plenty of paradise there, and the green tops were being eaten from the turqips. Sportsmen were usin" pea rifles, and the protection was playing into thei hands of the poachers. He was not pressing the point from the settlers’ point of view, but from that of the acclimatisation societies and of the county councils, whose views could not be said to agree entirely with those of the societies. Waitaki said the birds were numerous, Buller recommended shooting of pukeko, North Canterbury recommended a season for both. In’a supplementary letter Mr Stead referred to the damage suffered by the Canterbury farmers, and told of a flock of upwards of 300 pukeko in one swamp at Rangiora. The Lakes and Queenstown recommended an open season for "duck; AVaimate said that paradise duck and pukeko *" were both plentiful, and recommended that, both be shot during the whole of the open season. Ashburton recommended a month for duck. In South Otago pukeko were present in thousands — greater numbers than ever before. ’South Canterbury recomippuded an open season. Mr. Downie Stewart acknowledged the value of the Forestry. League’s contention for the preservation of the forests, but said that one department reported that , ducks were detrimental, and were carrying noxious weeds. Apart from the opinion expressed, by Mr. Murrell, quoted by the deputation, and the statements of the Forestry League, the whole consensus of opinion was in favour of a short open season.

Too Late to Reverse Decision. “It is very difficult to believe that I have been deliberately misled by the acclimatisation societies,” added the Minister. “It is too late now to reverse tho decision.” 1 Members of the deputation', also brought to the notice of the Minister tho depredations of stoats and weasels. Mr. 11. Atmore, M.P., said that they were very numerous in the Nel- ' son district. Ho suggested that tho acclimatisation societies were guided by the principle that they must provide imported game, and earn revenue from fees.

The Minister replied that the societies denied this allegation. Sir Thomas Mackenzie suggested the* employment of a reliable officer to report fiy next year. The Minister had not got the truth, he asserted, but They could see a ray of light, if the Minister became, a. member of their society. (Laughter.)