WELLINGTON ZOO

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 140, 15 June 1928, Page 3

WELLINGTON ZOO

«, «. ■■ (To the Editor,) Sir,—l wish to assure the chairman of. the Reserves Committee that in" making $ my report I did not, criticise the com- | ■ mittee's work. ■ I appreciate-:. Sir. Burn's | point of view and "fully" realise the diffi- "j-. culties which the committee has been up 1 against, especially in regard to Zoo |- finance, 'which' has shown a large annual , deficit. The folloiving are the figures:—. {:. 1.923 .... Deficit £2705 : , • 1924 .... Deficit £3080 1325 .... Deficit £2769 392(5 .... Deficit £3012 1027 .... Deficit £4878 This loss, of course, must be made up out of the general rates. I agree that there should be a Sunday charge and the money so obtained earmarked for improving the living conditions of the exhibits.. My report was made, however, in order to discuss which i policy was best to adopt for'the future, j •■. To the credit of the human race there has j ;■ been a very great change in late years in j. . their attitude towards all species of ani- I mal life. This is paricularly noticeable <~: in the modern policy adopted in housing ::- zoological exhibits. ■ There are numbers of thoughtful people who oppose the unnatural confinement of; wild animals as cruel and inhuman and j': would do away with 'zoos altogether, j • while larger numbers believe that we should only confine suitable animals bred in captivity if possible, and confine them in quarters approximating their natural ; conditions. I am convinced that this represents the view of far the .larger number of our people. It is admitted byunbiased critics that our zoological specimens are not suitably housed and that a considerable expenditure is necessary .iv \ this direction. I am also convinced thatthe present site of the Zoo has no natural advantages whatever, except its proximity to the city, and that it can, never be made.a zoo in keeping with the. city of the future. The question therefore is: should wa , go on spending money'-to make improvements on a site which is not naturally suitable and which can never be made ;._] ideal, or choose one winch has all the .. advantases which our beautiful native . bush and running streams- can give, a.nd make a fresh start under conditions which will make it possible to house the animals -.-.■ and other exhibits under natural con- ; ditions? I have visited zoos in England, France, Germany. Egypt. Melbourne, and Sydney, and in all cases the site was much more suitable than our own. Vet all " round Wellington we have such fine areas of natural,bush where the soil is suitable for horticulture which could be macla : . a splendid setting for a zoological gardens ; - in striking contrast to the more or less cramped, waterless • area, on poor soil at Newtown, and superior to any of those>I havis visited. ■ _• Ncwtown has one great advantage. 16 is-right in the centre of the city s population and is most accessible, while any -.'. new area that can be selected will be " some distance out, but we must remember that year by year the city is creeping ." over new areas and will soon grow round any new site which may be chosen. ' !.-" This matter will be discussed before. • the S.P.C.A. at its next meeting, not in v „ a carping spirit, but with a view to help. I am sure the chairman of 'the Reserves Committee will admit that • healthy criti- -•• cism never injured any good cause. Until then lam not at liberty to speak on be« *.-. half of the association": •■ I have no comments to make on_ Mr. J. -„-* Castle's letter except to inform him that if he has any sensible contribution to ' make on the subject, and will make it V; free from personal and insulting' refer* . ; '. ences, I will be pleased to anlwer it.—• : I am, etc., • . G. MITCHELL. '