HAWK DESTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15645, 26 June 1914, Page 10

HAWK DESTRUCTION.

Sir,— have received during the last few days three communications on hawk destruction from gentlemen residing in various parts of the district controlled by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, recommending that I should make an appeal through the Herald to the community of Auckland sportsmen, who are vitally interested in this matter, and who practically control tho situation. A remit providing for the universal destruction of hawks and shags was carried unanimously at the last conference of societies at Wellington, two Auckland delegates being present. The other societies bounding that of Auckland arc spending substantial sums annually in order to cope with the pest. A largo amount of game is destroyed yearly by these vermin, which could be substantially mitigated by universal' destruction. What is commonly known as the hawk is, in reality, a harrier, having the habit of beating the same ground day by day for food. When one is destroyed another imediately takes its place. It is just a case of fill up from the back. Oar society is bounded on two sides by that of Auckland, so it can be easily seen that although it costs us a considerable amount annually the expenditure is practically useless, as the birds from over the border take the place of those destroyed. I am not going to appeal to tho executive of the Auckland Society as at present constituted. This matter has been before them for some time, and they appear to bo beyond redemption in tho matter, but I do appeal to the sportsmen in the district controlled by them, and ask whether it is fair and reasonable that a small society like ours doing everything in its power in the interest of sport, should be handicapped in this manner by a far larger ana financially stronger society. Alter 37 years of experience as secretary of various societies I claim to have somo little knowledge of this matter, and can assure sportsman that tho destruction of game by hawks is appalling, especially as regards the young birds. Every year sees a longer list of licenseholders, decant holding and cover for birds is gradually getting less, and unless we rise to tho occasion by importing new blood and taking the most stringent measures as regards all came 'destrwers, anything approaching a fair bug will bo a thing of tho past. Any monov spent on partridges, however suitable tho locality, would bo utterly wasted unless the hawks were practically annihilated. Honestly I beliovo that partridges would thrive well in a great number of places in New Zealand, out their habits make thorn a far easier prey to vermin, therefore special attention must be given to the matter. I learn from the Herald that at a recent meeting tho Auckland Society vetoed tho proposal to pay for destroying hawks, under the plea that they do little harm to game. Did tho gentlemen who held this opinion over inquire from poultry farmers whose flock have an unlimited run in districts infested by hawks? When oven tho shadow of a hawk is noticed bv fowls they all scuttle for safety. Did these gentlemen ever see a hen with a brood of chickens calling tho young ones to her for shelter? I can give tho names of dozens of people interested in poultry '.who can substantiate these statements, and some who have actually gone out of tho business altogether on account of the depredations of hawks. If our stock of pheasants is to bo maintained we must depend in a great measure on hand-reared birds, and although the pheasant in its wild state may, from dint of perpetual persecution, have learnt in some moasure to protect itseU these birds liberated after confinement must necessarily bo an oasy prey. I am going to ask those societies who think thomseves affected to consider a proposition to be introduced at the next annual conference, that all societies whoso annual rovenue from gamo licenses amounts to £100 or more be compelled by . law to pay not less than 4d per head for hawks, or at least something to this effect. H. Boothey,

f Secretary, Tauranga Acclimatisation Socioty.