THE HAWK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17262, 1 September 1916, Page 6

THE HAWK.

PEST OR FRIEND OF THE FARMER? [From Our Correspondent. J \ ■WELLINGTON, August 31. Opinions about tho hawk differ according to locality. In some parts of Now Zealand this bird is regarded as a friend of th© fanner, and worthy of official protection. A number of farmers’ unions in, Otago, for instance, i have passed resolutions urging this course, because tho rabbit pest, which reached huge proportions, was appreciably reduced through th© partiality of the bird of prey for young rabbits. On the other hand, Auckland, farmers have been obliged to regard th® hawk as their enemy, and strong representations have been mad© to the Minister of l Internal Affairs to . removo th® protec-! tion which exists in regard to it. The difficulty is that as the law. stands, protection, if it prevails, must apply throughout Now Zealand, but tho 'Minister inform* * representative of the “Lyttelton Times” that he contemplates bringing in legislation when a favourable. opportunity arrives to enable protection to be applied over a limited area, while enabling people in districts where hawks are a nuisance to tlio farmers, to destroy them. - . . Meanwhile, the Munster proposes t< issue immediately a proclamation removing protection from hawks. until December 31, 1916.