BIRD PROTECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 13

BIRD PROTECTION

INTEREST IN BRITAIN

MUSSOLINI'S SUPPORT

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, March 21,

A message of greeting and encouragement from Signor Mussolini, who, byspecial decree, has just made Capri a sanctuary —was Tead at the annual i meeting of the Eoyal Society for the Protection of Birds, in the Middlesex | Guildhall. "Respect for the lives of animals ranks as one of tho noblest characteristics of a country," wrote the Italian leader, and he congratulated the society on its endeavours. That Continental countries now realise that birds are not merely ornamental, but economically essential, was later emphasised by the Belgian Ambassador. The sentiment for birds was growing in his own land, he said, where the Government had recently established a large sanctuary, and was contemplating others. The widespread interest aroused in Lord Buckmaster's Bill to extend tha protection of British wild birds was demonstrated when the House of Lords Select Committee, presided over by the Marquess of Bath, heard further evidence. Sir Ernest Holderness (an Assistant Secretary to the Home Office), giving evidence on the subject of experienced and inexperienced bird catchers, said the Home Office was of opinion that the action of the police under the Sunday Protection Orders was largely responsible for putting a stop to tho operations of amateur bird-catchers. It was thought that it would be as well if all bird-catchers had to take out » licence and -pay 5s a year. The chairman: You also recommend that bird dealers should be licensed1? — yes. Sir Ernest Holderness said that with regard to the power of the Home Secretary to add to the schedule of protected birds, there was nothing in the Bill to indicate the ground on which he was expected to exercise discretion. So far as the police were concerned, there was no power of entry. All they, could do would be to go to a house and ask the owner whether he had, say, a blackbird, and whether they could go in and see it. The owner had a perfect right to say "go away." Lord Alvingham: Could not it be done by warrant? Sir Ernest Holderness replied: "Do you think it is the proper function cf the police to inquire whether people aTa keeping birds in their houses?" He suggested that the police had many more- duties to perform nowadays than formerly, and he did not think they would have timo to go round in connection with birds. Mr. J. M. Crossthwaite (secretary to tho Scottish Society for the Protection of Wild Birds) said that if a bird were prohibited from using its wings, then it was deprived of an essential as much as a dog would be if deprived of its legs. There was also cruelty ia preventing a bird from giving way to its migratory instincts, and in preventing it from having association with its own kind. * The foolishness of keeping swallows and larks in cages was admitted by the public, and even by bird fanciers. Was there any substantial difference in principle between keeping those birds and any other kind?

A curious vehicle, sharing the appearance of an automobile and ;i railway trolley, is used by a Danish railway official in making his regular inspections of the road. Flanged wheels adapt the car to travel on the track, while a gasoline motor propels it at a lively pace. Headlights, horn, and a large windshield complete its equipment. An ear gymnasium, devised by a Michigan inventor, is said to aid those*of defective hearing by exercising the nerve centres of the ear. Special earphones are slipped over the patient's head, and at the tnne frequencies at which hearing is defective, a series of tone exercises is given at a volume great enough to be heard by the patient. This is said to improve the hearing.