BIRDS FOR ZOO

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 11

BIRDS FOR ZOO

NOT ALLOWED TO LAND

DEPART3IENT CRITICISED

Through -.the refusal of the Internal Affairs Department to allow two, cranes and four partridges from India to land in New Zealand, the City Council, which had imported these birds;for the Zoo, has had to have them destroyed. The reason for the Department's attitude was the fear of. psittacosis, commonly called parrot disease. Inconsistency ou the part of the Department was alleged by Councillor B. M'Keen, M.P., wheu discussing the matter witli a "Post" representative to-day. He said that on tho same ship, tho Barbado, were also two mandarin ducks and four black-breasted pigeons from Singapore. The curator of the Zoo, Mr. J. Langridge, had no difficulty in obtaining permits' for the delivery of these birds, but was refused permission in the case of the cranes and partridges. The Minister and officers were repeatedly approached, but had refus; ed to budge. • A stock inspector of the Agricultural' Department had examined the birds and had certified them as health, and they had also been given a clean bill by a veterinary surgeon at Calcutta. Mr. Langridge, who has had a long experience with birds and knew the disease, had also certified that the birds were free from psittacosis. "It was also pointed out to the Department," said Mr. M'Keen, "that the Wellington Zoo also acted as a quarantine;for animals and birds being imported into New Zealand, and it was suggested that these birds should be treated as if .they were in quarantine. The officers ■of the 'Department again refused, and wo had no other . course . but to restroy the birds. In my opinion Wellington has lost some valuable additions to its Zoo because of an attitude by departmental officers that is very dimcult to understand."