WILD LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 6

WILD LIFE

(To the Editor.)

Sir.—"God's own country": This expression came forcibly to my mind after X had read the several paragraphs re-wild Me m yesterday's.issue of "The Evening Post." . •

I News item No. I.—The weasels, having exterminated most of- the birds in the district extending from Pareinata to Paraparaumti, are reported -;o be migrating further north. [Note: Tliis cvermiu was imported into New Zealand.] News item No. 2.—Armies of caterpillars are attacking the lupins at PlimmertoD and Wanganui, and even invading houses. LNote: Bird life, now conspicuous by its absence, should be man's chief protection from this plague.]' News item N,o. 3.—Strenuous efforts are being made by the Plant Research Station at Pahnerston North to find a parasite to combat the white butterfly pest. [Note: This is another pest from abroad which birds alone can effectively cope with ] News item No. 4.—The New Zealand jN ative ■ Bird Protection Society congratulates the Minister on his refusal to agree to any further protection of deer -which constitute a meance to our forest, throughout the Dominion. [Note: Deer -were imported for "sport," and turned loose m our beautiful forests.] News item No. s.—"Forest Lover" draws attention to the fact that the forests in the Euahines are tecminn: with deer cattle, and pigs. [Note: Any one with a knowledge of our indige'iious flora knows that this state of affairs, if not checked, means the end of our "protection" forests.] News item No. 6—The Bird Protection bociety has appealed to the Minister for funds to combat the German owl menace. [Note: These aeeipitres are a comparatively recent importation which are spreading rapidly over the South Island, and exterminating the smaller species of native birds.]

.News item No. 7.—The Nelson Bird and Bush Association draws attention to tlie fact that the godwits (visitors from Siberia) and black swans are being shot in large numbers by "pot hunteis" at l'arewell Spit. [Note: Surely this remote spot might well be made a sanctuary] News item No. S.—The chairman of the Aew Zealand Forestry League, advocates a policy of afforestation which will protect the country from erosion by flooding rivers. [Note: Deer are largely responsible for this tremendous and cumulative loss.]

News item No. 9.—A well-known English, ornithologist speaks feelingly of the ruthless destruction of the peerless New Zealand forest, and forecasts that, as a result, the country will become more and more arid, and states that the only way to preserve the remnant of our marvellous bird life, is .to conserve and replant the forests. . [Note: The deer in hundreds of thousands are destroying more forest in a day than man can replace in a generation.]

_ God s own country" rings .through my mind as I recall the recent admission of the_ chairman of the Acclimatisation Society to the effect that the only bodies

that have derived profit from the nefarious deer, now admit that they are powerless to stay this menace to our national welfare. A glimmer of hope comes to*me as I remember that the New Zealand Forestry League is urging the Government to prohibit absolutely any further importation of animals other than those for domestic use, and that there is in existence a Wild Life- Council, composed of delegates from all bodies interested in wild lite, which is endeavouring T;o bring about one control to take in hand effectively the despoilers of our fair land referred to above. "God speed" such an altruistic, aim is the prayer oE

LOVER OF NEW ZEALAXD llarch .16.