THE GAME LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1444, 4 July 1868, Page 4

THE GAME LAWS.

To the Editor of the Herald. Slß,—l beg to offer, through tho medium of your valuable paper, my opinion relativo to the Game Laws, &o. First, I would allow every onn living on his own, or renting lurid, to shoot thereon -without license. His oxperionco would noon tench him (as mine has me) that tho pheasants are the greatest benefit to the success of agriculture, and on them it principally depends. Ido not expect all to agrco with me, especially the sportsman and n few other* like Mr. Gillies' friend liu speaks of, who would only tell the mischief they do, but who can't toll tho good they do. All who havo iinmincd them know if thore are grubs about they will or may bo found in them, and it only requires oris visit of that most destructive army, the caterpillar, to make us all appreciate the pheasants and most other birds. I should bo glad to know how to, or who oan keop the insects off. Jf I can keep tho birds off with little, or suppose great trouble, I consider I am woll paid, for they protect it and havo good right to some of it, and wo read, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." Neither do i ttiink the moroporks Bhould be destroyed because they attack tho birds in the aviary or tbo like prisoners. We vory often see parts of rats and znioc after them, but never any birds or their feathers, which I think ought to convince us they do not destroy many ; neither do I think thoy can find them when roosting at liberty. '.Therefore I beg lo suggest that the Acclimatisation Society should withdraw their reward and protect the morepork, for I am certain they protect us greatly from the ravages of the rats and mice, which is seriously felt in our oorn ar.d fruit in the busb.—l am, &0., CffLrrvATOß.