THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY "Public Service" WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1950 “REASONABLE PRIVACY”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4249, 1 March 1950, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY "Public Service" WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1950 “REASONABLE PRIVACY”

“The notornis should be left in its natural state in its forgotten country,” said Dr R. A. Falla, Director of the Dominion Museum, the morning after the rediscovery in November, 1948. The birds were best left alone, he added, and it was necessary for them to have at least a reasonable degree of privacy for them to increase. Throughout the country there was general agreement with Dr Falls's remarks. Within a few days the Government had indicated its intention to set aside an aifea of 40,000 acres as a sanctuary, and the then Minister (Mr Parry) assured the public that he would “make every effort to save the species from extinction by leaw* ing them entirely undisturbed.” Already since November, 1948, no fewer than five expeditions have been organised to shatter the privacy that was so loudly and distinctly promised. Even more expeditions seem to be contemplated in the future. In January, 1949, within a few weeks of his pronouncement, Dr Falla was personally leading a party to inspect the scene. He noticed that the birds were already “becoming more cautious.” Nextan expedition from the United States (the home of privity) had obtained permission to visit fiordland, and by April had made “a thorough search” of the area. Four months later, in August, in Internal Affairs expedition visited the birds again to see -how they got on in the snow, and then in December Dr Eilla led a further expedition to examine the nesting habits of the unfortunate notornis and no doubt in the interests of privacy, took with him a team from ins Internal Affairs Department, .including a photographer from the Government Film Unit, who made a pictorial record of the expedition. This has recently been exhibited and the public has been edified by photographs of the birds being stalked to their nests, and of a hen running from her nest in fright while members of the expedition handled and measured the precious eggs, which had been taken out of the nest and held up to the canters. Itfa treatment which we would hesitate to give our own domestic 'hens. Last month a fifth expedition, including tite Director of the Otago Museum and (of course), a photographer has paid the area a further visit.