PHEASANT BREEDING

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 4

PHEASANT BREEDING

DISCUSSION BY ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY A discussion on the breeding of pheasants by ' the Otago Acclimatisation Society took place at last night’s monthly meeting of the council of the association. The president (Mr C. A. Wilson) was in -the chair. Mr Q. E. Turner read from a newspaper clipping of the difficulties experienced by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society in the rearing of the birds. It was stated that the society’s programme over five years had cost £2,000, and its abandonment was urged. At present there was no suitable cover in Canterbury, and most of the birds liberated were destroyed by the numerous vermin. Mr Turner then went on to say that -it was about time that the members realised the fact that it was a waste to continue the breeding of pheasants. Mr S. F. Ahum complained that there were some members who would quote the slightest thing which came out in the newspapers which tended to belittle the efforts of the society. _ The Minister of Internal Affairs had said ho was going to insist on the breeding of pheasants for sporting purposes, as he was disgusted with the way in which sportsmen had been catered for. The speaker considered that the report had come from some chicken-hearted persons. One member contended that the society had been losing £SOO a year on fish, and was taking the money of the gunmen to make up for it. , “ That the society abandon the breeding of pheasants,” was a motion moved by Mr Turner. Mr W.. G. Reid seconded. . . Mr F. G. Williams maintained that if the society had spent £IOO on rearing pheasants that was all they had spent, and no more. He thought the society should carry on and make a success of it. Mr Maconie considered that they should continue rearing the birds for another year to let the authorities see that thev were doing their best. Mr Williams intimated that he had been advised that the Minister of Internal Affairs approved of the efforts of the Otago Association to breed pheasants. I am satisfied that because of the vermin wc cannot breed them here,” said Mr J. Hutchison. The society, however, had so much plant for the breeding of pheasants that they should give it a try for another year, and if it was not satisfactory they could then cut it out._ i The motion was lost.