NATIVE BIRD LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 6

NATIVE BIRD LIFE

NEED FOR MORE SANGTUARIES QUITE A BIG PROBLEM (Special.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 7. A strong plea for increased efforts aimed at preserving bird hie in tne Dominion was advanced by Mr W. M. C. Denham (Govt., Invercargili), speaking on the estimates of the Department of Lands and Survey in the House of Representatives last evening. • His remarks were received with approval by a number of members, notably by Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga), who suggested that Mr > Denham should divide the House on tha " miserable vote " for bird preservation—£so. Mr Denham said that £SO was insufficient for the work—he would like to see £5,000 on the estimates tfbr the purpose of bird sanctuaries. In this country at present there were more or less places for preserving ducks and swans, added Mr Denham. Hes Was not interested in that. The acclimatisation societies might have done good.work from time to time in interesting themselves in various phases of the question, but generally speaking they were more or less gun and dog clubs, and the birds they were interested in were protected for a period of the year so that they could be shot in the following season. " There are other beautiful birds in New Zealand, and I would ask that the few remaining places where they are ftmnd should be preserved,'.' said Mr Denham. "We should have wardens there and look after them. As ' it is at present they are left to the mercy . of no one in particular. . I. feel that New Zealand is lagging behind in this particular matter.'.' : Mr Denham informed the House that he had photographs showing how the destruction of birds led to an increase in insect life, with the resultant killing of some of the most beautiful flora-in the Dominion. ✓When Mr Denham described the vote as a paltry £SO, Mr Doige suggested that he move an amendment and divide the House. Mr Denham retorted that he* would • not do that. He knew there had been difficulties, but when the position was relieved he thought that some returned men interested in wild lift* would be appointed as wardens to preserve'the Dominion's bird life. " We all agree that we want to protect our native birds to the utmost."' V stated the Minister of Lands (Mr Skin- . nerj in reply. All the State tforests. he . ■ continued, were sanctuaries, and it was quite wrong to think that anyone with a gun could go out and shoot what he liked. Permits were sometimes - granted, but .the- Forest Service was not very generous in this respect, and all game was protected. • Mr Clyde Carr reminded Mr Den ham that in addition to the vote he had mentioned there was another item of £4OO for the supervision, maintenance, and improvement of bird sanctuaries in > New Zealand.' • ' ' '■ •'■ The question of bird sanctuaries was one of great moment, said Mr-E. B. Corbett (Egmont). Not only was the preservation of the bjrds involved, but ;. also in many instances the preserva- v tion of the national parks. He felt that the value of the protection of the forests was not (fully appreciated. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Air Parry) said there was no possible xhanceof, doing- anything -effective exeept thro\igh a properly organised sys-'':: tem for the extermination of pests. An.;: organisation was required whose activities would extend from one end of New Zealand to the other, and which would be constantly in the bush. One of the greatest sources of trouble was the liberation by people's tame cats in , the bush. As _a result, the bush to-day was full of cats, which were- causing no end otf destruction to bird life. Tt ' was not enough merely to establish - bird sanctuaries, because unless the sanctuary was isolated, such as the Little Barrier, pests got into them also.