PROTECTED BIRDS
Killing Of Albatrosses At The Chathains COMMENT BY MINISTER Measures taken by the Goveruuient fur the protection of native trees and birds of New Zealand were mentioned yesterday by (lie Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry. He referred in deprecaiory lerjns 10 a statement made in 1 lie Press of I lie reported killing for sport of young albatrosses at Chatham Islands. An investigation would be made in the matter, he said, for certain species of the albatross were on the protected list of birds in the Dominion and the Chatliaui Islands formed pari of the New Zealand territory. "The albatross is one of the bestloved birds of the sea." said Mr. Parry, •‘and it should have the full protection of our laws. A late resident of the islands has stated, 'Young albatrosses were hunted in the nearby islands, being killed with sticks, and a parly of hunters often returned with as many as 300 birds in the boats.’ That statement shows that there is a wholesale slaughter of the birds going on at the islands and if they are of the species protected by law, action is deserved and necessary. I am asking the Minister in charge of the Police Department, Mr. Fraser, to have instructions sent to tho resident constable of the islands to undertake an investigation.”
The Minister referred to the recent outcry in Dunedin where, at the Otago Heads, the nests of albatrosses had been wantonly 'disturbed by vandals. “That outcry.” Mr. Parry added, “was well justified and led .to measures being taken which would at least ensure protection to the birds frequenting the shores of our southern coast. Fortunately, today the lovers of the birds in our country outnumber the people who do not see beauty in birds or who are not helpful in their protection. .1, with others, look forward to the day when all our people from one end of the Dominion to the other will voluntarily enrol themselves as bird lovers, for the birds mean so much to the lands, bush, and countryside of the Dominion.”
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 105, 27 January 1940, Page 18
Word Count
346PROTECTED BIRDS Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 105, 27 January 1940, Page 18
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