SANCTUARY FOR BIRDS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 34, 3 November 1934, Page 14

SANCTUARY FOR BIRDS

South African Action Cape Town, June 14. Genuine pleasure is felt here at the 'introduction in.the House of Assembly of a Bill to protect the wild birds of South Africa. In sponsoring the motion Colonel D. Reitz, Alinister of Lands, said he hoped he would not be regarded as. a crank or a faddist. Even if he were he would be in good company, as a large section of the public looked with increasing dislike upon the traffic in wild birds. It was a traffic that was increasing. He was not thinking of the depredations of small boys but of an organised industry which was growing in volume every year. “It is one of the most cruel and most iniquitous trades we have,” said Colonel Reitz, “and I do not think that the conscience of South Africa will permit it tb go unhindered.” A great many types of South African birds, the Alinister added, were in danger. of extermination; many varieties he had no doubt were gone already. If those who indulged in the capture and sale of wild birds were prevented from doing so, they would not kill them.

He . had been astonished when he started looking into the matter to see the tremendous number of beautiful birds that were in the Transvaal, some of which were on the verge of extinction. Before drafting the Bill, he had gone fully into the legal position, and he had found that the provinces had no Tight to legislate in the direction of the Bill—it was a matter for the Union Government. He had also learned that all the administrators were in favour of the passing of the measure. He thought he had the almost unanimous approval of the House in saying that this iniquitous traffic should be stopped. Signor Mussolini hud recently made the island of Capri a bird sanctuary, and ho thought they might go a step further and make the whole of Soijth Africa a bird sanctuary. i‘ -