IMPORTED PLANTS AND BIRDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 11

IMPORTED PLANTS AND BIRDS.

The Minister of Agriculture has introduced in the House of Representatives two Bills that aim at the suppression of pe^ts the existence of which is prejudicial to the interests of an important section of the community. In one measure, which ha^ been before Parliament in previous se-><-ion->, he proposes the adoption of measures to prohibit the importation of disea-ed plant-, : and he also proposes to take steps, through the agency of the usual corps of inspectors and other Government officials, to eradicate disease whenever it may appear in any orchard. The other Bill contemplates the destruction of injurious birds. AYe are not enlightened by the Bill a« to what birds arc to be regarded as injurious-. It might be more satisfactory, however, if the measure were .specific on this point instead of it being left, a^> is proposed, to the Governor-in-Council to gazette from time to time a list of injurious birds , for, as appeared at the late Agricultural Conference in Dunedin,' there is a wide difference of opinion among farmers as to what birds, actually are the most mjschievous. In Hawke's Bay, we were told, the blackbird and thrush do more havoc than the sparrows and linnets ; and we were reminded at the same time that these small birds render in sozne respects a considerable service to the settlers. But the consensus of opinion was distinctly in favour of the adoption of some legislation enforcing measures to cope with the trouble. The fecundity of these «niall birds is so amazing — according to statistics that were submitted to the conference, 11 pair- of birds ineiease their numbers so rapidly that in two years' time they are represented by 1G1.051 pair thai anything short of d concerted warfare against them i- not likely to be of (ranch. *yaii. Foi tk.it

rea-on the conference unanimously agreed that it should be made compulsory upon the local bodies to deal with the nuisance. The Bird- Nui— anfe Bill proposes that, but it aho proposes to enforce individual action against the pest in a way which probably the Agricultural Conference never contemplated. If clause 10 of the Bill is not to be regarded as a subtle example of Ministerial humour, which is the less to be expected as it emanates from Mr Duncan, who, like most of his compatriots-, is understood to joke wi' deeficulty, it contains one of the most extraordinary of all the strange proposals for which the present Government has been responsible. With seeming gravity it provides as follows: — '"If any injurious bird hatches its young within a radius of 10 chains of a residence or any building, the occupier of such building is liable to a penalty not exceeding £10 unless he satisfies the court that he has taken all reasonable <=teps to prevent any such bird from hatching its young on the land occupied by him within the said radius.'' The Bill, if it passes with this provision, will possess greater terror for the haras-cd settler than for the hara-s-iu^ bird.