ACCLIMATISATION WORK

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 13 October 1932, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION WORK

NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE. PROTECTION OF BIRD LIFE. (by Telegrapn—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. Tlie New Zealand Acclimatisation conference was opened to-dav, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp 'presiding. The president in a long address dealt wtili many matters in which the societies were concerned. The secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr Malcolm Fraser, attended. The following officers were elected -. President, Mr. Tripp, vice-president, Mr Whitney; treasurer, Mr Dyer-, council, Dr. Anson and Messrs. Seed (Wellington), McKenzie (Auckland), Laurence (North Canterbury), Stockwell (Feld ding), Wilson (Otago), Mackay (South Canterbury), Duigan (Wanganui). Robertson (Southland), Parkin (Whangaroa), Mog ridge (Marlborough) and Edmondson (Hawke’s Bay). A Southland proposal to prohibit the storage of native game in freezing works was defeated.

The conference Creolined to adopt r "Whangaroa -proposal to give ranger* power to inspect vehicles on roads for game taken illegally or to search hags and luggage belonging to gun parties. Tlie 'Government is to be asked to make an addition to the Animal Game Protection Act making .it illegal to disturb nests where birds are nesting. An instance was quoted where 306 black swan eggs were spoiled through being disturbed. ft was agreed that permits to destroy pukeko should be confined to May. June and Jidy. Mr. T. G. A. HarJe (Ashburton) said pukekos had been seen to kill ducklings by dashing them against trees. Mr. C. A. Whitney (Auckland) thought the protection could be removed; the pukeko was a cunning bird and could look after himself. Mr. J. McDonald said South Canterbury farmers would lay poison unless a short season was granted. South Canterbury asked for the protection to be removed from the little gull. From time to time they swarmed up the rivers twelve miles, inland, raiding young trout. Mr. C. H. Lawrence (North Canterbury) said little gulls were companionable fellows ; they took a few trout but not enough to justify the protection being removed. The remit was lost. Mr. H. J. Duigan (Wanganui) moved that the Government be requested to remove magpies from the list of protected birds in the War.gnnui and Feilding districts owing to numerous reports that the*v were de stroying protected birds. Mr. F. H. i.Sltockwell (Feilding) seconded. Mr. C. I. Dasent (Wellington) believed all magpies were killers when raising young. He instanced a lawn infested with grass grubs. Three magpies in a .month practically destroyed the grub. Mr Tripp suggested evidence against the magpie should he recorded. It would be better to leave the protection on and apply for a permit in special cases. The remit was withdrawn .