NATIVE BIRDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21053, 16 June 1930, Page 12

NATIVE BIRDS.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —After so much anonymous letter writing, it is refreshing to find a letter in your columns over Mr Sanderson’s own signature. When I arrived at the end of one of his wonderful sentences (oyer 100 words and not a gasp for breath), I began to realise the seriousness of the situation. Acclimatisation societies, like most other public bodies, prefer to suffer in silence the attacks that have been recently made on them. This time they must surely reply—especially seeing that the letter is signed. It is apparent from Mr Sanderson’s letter that unless we- immediately do away with the acclimatisatibn.eocieties, we are to have “ no forests, no fish, no game birds, no native birds.’* The only cure for this evil is to create a Government department with Mr Sanderson, in charge, and let him run for us the whole of the work that is at present being done by the 29 societies throughout Isew Zealand. It is true that a Government department will cost a lot to run, against the free services of the present acclimatisation councils, but extra taxation can be levied on us all to pay for this. Anyhow, we will save the country, and Mr Sanderson’s valuable services will no doubt meet -their due reward. —I am, etc,, G. Howes. TO THE EDITOR. Siß.—-I note a letter in your issue of the 13th signed by Captain Sanderson. In it he finds fault with the Otago Acclimatisation Society again, because our ranger reported that our native birds showed an increase. I thought Captain Sanderson would have expressed gratification in the matter, and I cannot understand the mentality of a man who uses such a simple statement as another means of attack on our local society.—l am, etc., Charles A. Wilsoh.