‘AUCTOR' AND ‘LECTOR'

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1931, Page 5

‘AUCTOR' AND ‘LECTOR'

THE BALANCE OF NATURE.

“Lector”; “I see they are making this ‘Bird Month’ in New Zealand. Funny thing that, isn’t it?-—a ‘Bird Month!’ Whoever heard of that be? fore ?’ ’ - .^

“Auctor”: “Ves, it’s strange, but when you come to examine the facts you will find that the only thing funny about it is that it has-never been, held before.”

“Lector”: “Perhaps. But . .then, you see, I know so little about, it that I am seeking information.

“Anetor”: “The; idea ;is : . to create public sentiment in favour*bf ojat native birds, and so secure.' their ' protection. The project has been launched by the New Zealand 'Native; Bird Protection Society, which ■ is '.devoting a whole month to it, and it has chosen the month of August because-this is the hardest month of the .year for birds, when the food, "supply;via| lowest and the weather conditions; Severest, and birds need the greatest'protection. Also the society is staking advantage of this special effort vto> hold an art union with • which?. • ; raise money in order to enable it ;to -carry on its educational ■ worts.; iu future. ** - ' .

Lector ,“I * bh^?^< hut, still, there 1 are; plentyi'df birds' -about aren't-there ?” r . 1 . v ,! “Auetor”; 1 “Yes; but not native birds. is in favour of the natiVe of the - ‘scheme of things ’ designed by an All;Wise Providence. ' v They,' "along with some imported birds, “ represent the balance of Nature. They Uvb on grubs, blight, and insects, and so prevent them from becoming ace to our grasses, plant life, and? forests. Also, with the winds they/ are the greatest distributors of - needs, and so help carry on the Divine plan of Creation! ‘No native birds, np native forests 1 is the motto of the Native Bird Protection Society. So it follows: no forests, no timber, and no forests, then sudden and oft-repented floods, which sweep away farm lands and cause enormpus damage to the country.” “Lector”: “I had never thought of that.”.

Auetor: ‘‘No, like thousands of others, you don’t think. Yet it ia only commonsense. The salient fact is that the native birds of a country are the birds intended by Providence for the good of that particular eountry. It is so in,the case of New Zealand, but man, as always, has been the greatest destroyer. , Our native birds, the finest songsters in the world, the most useful in our forests, and the most rare and interesting; in their species, have been largely exterminated, and unless we can restore the balance we are likely to /pay a very heavy price for our folly. The public of New Zealand can help in this by backing up the efforts of the New Zealand Native Bird protection Society.” ■'