GIFT OF MALLARD DUCK

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 14

GIFT OF MALLARD DUCK

The offer of Mr. C. A. Whitney, the well-known sportsman, to make a gift of 75 pairs of wild Mallard duck for liberation in New Zealand, and the Government's refusal to allow the gift to be accepted, caused considerable discussion at the meeting of the Te Aroha Acclimatisation Society, states aTe Aroha correspondent. In explaining the position the president, Mr. J. M. Cochrane, said that Mr. Whitney intended importing these birds from America to ensure the correct type being secured. The offer had originally been-made to the parent body in Auckland, where it had a mixed reception, it being contended that the Mallard was in the habit of producing crossbreeds or "mongrel duck" of an undesirable type. Since then, however, Mr. Whitney had fairly conclusively proved that in its wild state the Mallard produced only the pure sporting strain. Subsequently his offer had been made to the Paeroa Society and accepted, but the Minister of Internal Affairs had since refused a permit for the birds to be imported. Mr. Whitney was now seeking the support of all cpuntry branches in pressing for the permit to be granted. After considerable discussion members generally agreed that it was in the interests of sport that the birds be allowed to enter the country for liberation, and it was resolved to petition tlie Minister asking that a permit be granted.