PIGEONS FOR IMPERIAL SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 14, 16 July 1918, Page 8

PIGEONS FOR IMPERIAL SERVICE

Pigeons are wanted for war work on the Western front, and New Zealand has been asked to assist in supplying these messengers, of whose usefulness tho war has given new proof. Before telegraphs, telephones, and wireless attained the present state of development, pigeons were in great demand for carrying news, and many lofts were maintained by business enterprises in all parts of the country. Then the telegraph took the place of the bird for ordinary purposes, and the breeding of carrier pigeons became a sport and a hobby, with a side-line of usefulness in special cases. The war has altered this situation to a great extent. Now birds are used to maintain communication with advanced posts when wires would be cut by shell and shrapnel ; to carry news from trawlers, submarines, and aeroplanes which cannot always be kept in touch by the more modern methods of news transmission. When the appeal was made to the Pigeon Flying Clubs in New Zealand for assistance in maintaining the supply of birds there was a ready response. Mr. C. Kirkby, of the Canterbury Club, has now, been appointed by tho Minister of Defence to control the mobilisation of the pigeons, and it is expected that a first batch of 300' birds will be despatched shortly. Wellington proposes to give assistance also, but the matter has not yet received definite consideration. Here the fanciers are not in so strong a, position as before the war, for they are mostly working people, and the advance in the price of feed has hit their hobby hard. Many lofts have been reduced to half their size, and there are very few yearlings which could be sent away at once. A pigeon fancier, talking to a Post reporter, said that for work abroad the very youngest birds were required, in order that they might be trained to new lofts. Older birds would not take kindly to new homes. There is not now the big reserve of young birds to draw on, for, as has been stated, the price of feed has enforced a reduction of numbers. Costs are almost doubled; a sack of peas which ■was bought for 17s before the war now costs 30s.