SHOOTING NATIVE PIGEONS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 42, 19 February 1923, Page 2

SHOOTING NATIVE PIGEONS

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Referring- to the attempt by some to g-et the restriction-removed as to shoot- : ing- native pigeon, it should be explained, ■■ iv justice to the genuine sportsman, that ; ho has nothing to do with this. He is not j interested in killing a bird sitting up a I tree, but rather iv the ability of his dog i to outwit the cluoive crafty old cock pheasant or swift flying game" little Californian; and, need it be added, both birds are well able to look after themselves so far ! as the shoolist is concerned, more than often haying the laugh. No, it is palpably an attempt by some acclimatisation society to I'ake in a fewmore shekels by issuing licenses to the pothunter to shoot our valuable native pigeon, which your correspondent in Tuesday's issue states it is not considered by thorn to be thoir work to protect, but which are showing a tendency to hold their own now that shooting- is prohibited iv State forests. It is expected the public will re=ent any such attempt, and rightly so, but it is to bo hoped sporiainen will not be credited with having anything; to do iv the matter. Too much power appears to bo in- '■ vested in the- Minister in respect of the , I removal of such restrictions, and who cannot be expected to be always a forester ! and ornithological, and may or may not, at his discretion, refer the matter to those | who could advise as to the harm or otherwise likely to ensue, and thus defeat the wishes of Parliament. —I am. etc.. SPORTSMAN. 17th February. [In the Legislative Council the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie asked the Leader of the Council whether, in order to preserve our beautiful native birds, ho will move isc::t session the repeal of tub-section ! (3) of section 3 of tho Animals Protection and Game Act. 1921. ;<s the taid -ection empowered the Governor-General to remove native birds from tho permanently protected schedule to the schedule which permits of their being shot; and whether in the meantime, as pressure is likely to be brought to bear on the Government to permit sportsmen to shoot certain species so protected, ho will endeavour to prevent i it. Replying to the question, Sir Francis ■ Bpll said that the question'related inainiy to the preservation of paradise ducks anil i pukeko, and was a matter that had his sympathy. This was not now within the Department of which he had control, bill he was happy to be able to say that ihe Minister of Internal Affairs would not alter the protection without the direction of I Cabinet.]