BIRDS AND BUSH

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1928, Page 10

BIRDS AND BUSH

THE OPOSSUM—FOR & AGAINST. In a progress report issued by the N.z' Native Bird Protection Society appears the following. The opossum Question has again come to the forefront owing to an application made to the Honcut ab.c Minister of Internal Affairs by Acclimatisation Societies to further distribute the animal. Probably the most pressing need in New Zealand is toe preservation of a sufficiency of otu Indigenous forests as they are essential for the conservation of raimali. 'for the presention of erosion, an-t such 'matters which, make for the prosperity of our primary industries. Our native birds inhabiting the forest are absolutely essential to maintain our indigenous forests in health and well being. There are many who doubt that the opossum is a real asset, and ’suggests that we are probably jeo'pardising a far greater wealth producer —the foresis for the smaller revenue derived from skins. Those who receive financial benefits 'from the opossum are the department ! c,f Internal Affairs, the Forest Service. ■ Acclimatisation Societies, trappers, skin buyers, etc., and from these comes the most strenuous advocacy 'for the animals. Some most extra'ordinary statements have been made '.as for instance that the fact of trappers catching rats and stoats lias caused native birds to prosper in those 'localities where trapping goes on. Estimates of thousands of rats caught, by trappers have been made when the Tact, is that nobody can form the crudest notion how many are killed. On 'the other hand they assert that only : an occasional kiwi or weka is caught —in fact any story to make a good case. Now the facts, as nearly as can lie stated as judged from numbers of statements from reliable people who can have no possible interest in the opossum are that. desire bh> re venue is received yearly from skins. They on Ilia o'irr hand admit ibiiiti.?.; is done to tiio forest by opossums and trap pmw, while, kiwi ami other birds are hilled wholesale- by traps. The opossum.: themselves eat eggs and Iledgiings, ami some observers state, and

apparently authentically. f.lmi iliey 'even kill full grown pigeons and other birds. Our Society has therefore asked for a, comprehensive scientific survey by serno disinterested body, and it is understood that a. start has been made in this direction. If is only io ho hoped flint it will be on a suflicion 1 iv : rcalo lo put all doubts a! and rol merely of a nature le allay public feelings. So many mistakes

i’uve been made in past acclimatisation efforts that is is surely wise to t.-.ke every precaution before acting.