SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11870, 20 April 1899, Page 2

SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

CONFERENCE OF ROAD BOARDS. A conference of delegates from Road Boards was held yesterday at the Selwyn County Council office, to consider the best means of. dealing with the small birds nuisance.

Mr J. Wolfe (Springs Road Board) was in the chair, and there were present— Messrs W. Bailey (Templeton), T. Quayle (Springs), W. Al’Millaii (Ellesmere), E. Peryman and, H. Patterson (Lincoln), C. Burgess (Avon), P. Westenra (Rakaia), H. A, Knight (Courtenay) and W. Gilmore (Tai Tapu). The Chairman said that the object of the meeting was to consider the resolutions passed by the Springs Road Board, to the effect that a more thorough and effective mode of deeding with the small birds nuisance was necessary dining the coming winter. The Springs Road Board had submitted its resolutions to the Selwyn County Council, which had replied that' if the Board would convene a meeting of Road Boards’ delegates, their suggestions would receive consideration.

Mr P. Westenra asked the Chairman whether the Springs Board had any scheme to propose. The Chairman said that it had not. Mr Westenra said that in the Rakaia district, they had two sparrow clubs, to which the Board paid a grant, in addition to that given % the County Council. The Chairmen of the sparrow clubs had not been able to suggest any improvement on the present methods. The Cliahman said the Springs Road Board spent £BO per annum on the suppression of small birds. He thought that they should get the adult birds early in the winter so as to prevent the increase. Some discussion followed, in the course of which it was suggested that (natural enemies of the sparrows, such as the sparrowhawk and kestrel, should be imported; that .only birds’ heads should be purchased; that steps should be taken i.o ensure more uniform quality in the poisoned wheat; and that the Government j should be asked to bring in legislation on the subiect. ' Several of the delegates described the methods adopted in their districts. The proposal to introduce sparrowhawks did not meet with favour, and the Chairman said that he thought they would prove worse than the sparrows themselves. Mr C. Burgess moved—“ That this conference of Road Boards requests the Selwyn County Council to subsidise pound for pound up to £25, the money spent for the destruction of small birds during June, July and August.” Mr P. Westenra said that for a Road Board to obtain a subsidy from the County Council .was to merely receive its own money. The thing was* to find some means of bringing about united effort. It was useless for one Board to take action at one time, and another at another. The Chairman of one of the sparrow clubs in his district found that poisoning was very effectual. Mr Burgess’s motion ;was not seconded, and Mr H. A. Knight moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the various Road Boards to purchase birds’ heads at 4d per dozen during the months of Jitne, July and August, and eggs at 2d per dozen during the months of September, October, November and December.” Mr Westenra seconded Mr Kmght’s motion, which, after some discussion,, was carried. „ Mr Burgess then proposed a furtnef motion, which was carried —“ That this meeting of Road Board delegates requests the Road Boards to use their best endeavours to cope with the small birds nuisance, and asks the Selwyn County Council to increase its subsidy.” The Chairman said the Springs Road Board would send copies of .the resolutions to the County Council and to the Road Boards in the county. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.