NATURE-AND MAN

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1932, Page 2

NATURE-AND MAN

CALL FOE VISION,

‘ ‘ NATIONA L CONSCIOUSNESS. ’ ’

(Edited by Leo. Fanning.)

When people are besot by difficulties! such as the lack of work, shortage of money, uncertain markets and the weird ways of the wide world they are not usually inclined to take a long view of their country’s future. Many persons are downhearted, .at present, about New Zealand’s prospects, but this country will be all right if the people are mindful of what Nature has dene for them here —and if they avoid repeating the past mistakes Nature—the wild play of axe and tire on steep watersheds. Nature is always willing to be a benefactor of man, when he behaves well, but she is a pitiless punisher of folly. Lord Bledisloe’s Lead. During recent- years nobody has done more than Lord Bledisloo to impress New Zealand on New Zealanders. He has shown a wide and far-reaching vision for this country on a national line which should be an inspiration for the whole of the public. Historic events of the early days of colonisation, the native forests, the rivers, lakes and mountains have all come within liis survey, and nobly he has spoken for them. The gift of Lady Bledisloo and himself—the great estate by the Ray of Islands whore the first missionary landed and where British sovereignty was proclaimed—has been warmly praised. One editorial writer has rightly referred to the importance of that gift in helping to form a “national consciousness” here —that broad and deep sense of country which inspires writers, artists and musicians. His Excellency’s example should do enduring good, immeasurable good. Sense of Country.

The British Isles are still “Home” for a great many residents of New Zealand —even for the grandchildren of pioneers. Time was when Northern Germany was “Home” for the Angles, Saxons and Jutes who drove the oldtime Britons into Wales and Cornwall. Normandy was “Home” to the Normans for many years after the Battle of Hastings, and long before William the Conqueror set out on his great adventure Scandinavia was “Home” to his ancestors, the fierce Norsemen. One does not wish to disturb the-sentiment of “Home” in’ the relation of New Zealand to the Mother Country, but it is true that a growth of the sense of country here and in other Dominions will make for strength, not weakness, in the British Commonwealth of, Nat-

ions, “Sense of Country!” What does it mean? It includes the souse of history, the memory of ancestry, but it has its physical side as well —Nature and the works of man in alliance with Nature —his fields and his homes. New Zealand’s forests and birds must have their place in the making 1 of that strong <‘national consciousness’ which promotes national welfare frdm all viewpoints. Bones and Birds. Perhaps there is a scientist here who would fight fiercely for the retention of a treasured moa-bone. Another might risk his life to save the tuatara from extinction, but this kind of selfsacrifice would not be plentiful. When it comes to beautiful live singing Birds, it is a different story. I know men — and women, too—who would take up arms to defend the tui and the bellbird against merciless destroyers. The tui and the bell-bird have come more into their sense of country than the tally of tallow and frozen meat, Hope In The Youn^. “Boys are barbarians,” a cynical person has remarked, “Animal spirits” are as natural in boys as green is in young grass* but various movements have proved that it is possible to divert those spirits from mischief to healthful exercise and other good. By the right message, the right touch, boys can be converted from bird-des-troyers to bird-protectors. In that kind of change-over remarkable progress has been made in the United States,of America. “Wild-life study,” says one reviewer, “is now 7 being taught, in most of the public schools of the United States. Children are familiarised with the common plants, trees, insects, animals, and birds. They are taught to recognise the commoner species and learn something of their ' habits. To further this work many States have set aside a ‘bird-day,’ similar to and often in conjunction with an ‘arbor-day,’ on which the public school children plant berry-trees or shrubs, build bird houses, and make excursions into the woods and fields under the guidance of teachers to study close at hand what they have been taught indoors. In other words, there is a general trend of popular sentiment towards teaching the younger generations to take an interest in birds and other forms of wild life.” Similar good work is being done in New Zealand, but the range of it is not yet nearly as wide as the Native niial Protection Society would like. Bird Sanctuaries on Golf Links, Another progressive American example is in the use of golf links as lord sanctuaries. Care is taken to plant llic kind of trees that will give board as well as lodging to birds. That example was well commended recently by .Mr C. IT, Tripp, president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation .Society. Of course .Mr Tripp had in mind the species of trees (native and exotic)

which would provide honeyed flowers or berries for native birds. How pleasant it would be if golf clubs competed for a championship in that very desirable planting? Who will offer a shield or a cup for it? Bigger Competitions. Mention of that golf Hubs notion gives a reminder of a bigger bind of competition for which native birds would he very grateful. Who would not libe to see Whangarei challenging Dargaville for the premiership in the planting of shrubs and trees (particularly “natives”) beneficial for native birds. Similarly New 1 Plymouth might he in rivalry with Wanganui, Hamilton with Hastings, Napier with Gisborne, Wellington with Aucblancl, Nelson with Greymouth, Christchurch with Dunedin, Timaru with Oamaru, Invercargill with Gore, and so on. Perhaps something llbo that can be put in train before the next Arbor Day comes around. Gulls At Play. On the wharves or piers of any New Zealand port one may stand close to the black-backed gull. It is a handsome bird, but very stern-looking. No light of love lurks in its pale eyes, over intent on food. Yet the gull has its moods of playfulness as I observed one windy day during a stroll on the wharves of Wellington. A long line of gulls on the roof-ridge of a big store held my gaze. One of the birds flew high up into the breeze, and it was evidently imitating the soaring of the gannet. It tried to avoid flapping its widespread wings while it w T ent in a big. circle back to its perch by its mates. Indeed it slipped into only two or three flutters. I could imagine one of the other birds saying: “Not so bad, Bill; you nearly did it. Now I’ll have a go.” A moment after the first one returned another went off in the same planing flight. It was apparently a competition. The flights were always single, and were always in the some soar ding style. It seemed that I was the solitary human spectator of a championship meeting.