NEW ZEALAND BIRDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 28

NEW ZEALAND BIRDS

GREATER PROTECTION URGED. SIR THOMAS AIACKEXZIE S VIEWS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July If). Ine South Island members of the Legislative Council were to the fore this afternoon m an advocacy of greater protection tor New Zealand birds. Sir Thoma s Mackenzie moved the second reading of the Animals Protection and Game Amendment Bill, the principle of which, h e said was that instead of the Governor-General deciding what birds should be protected, the Legislature should decide. Sir Thomas said it had been stated that the permits issued for scientific purposes were being abused, and he urged that more careful inquiries should be made before permits were issued He had heard that the slaughter at Stewart Island would make one’s heart bleed New Zealand bird life wa s well worth protecting. Our birds were beautiful and unique. They included delightful songsters and connected us with a remote antiquity. Our birds were fast disappearing. He thought the islands off the New Zealand coast should be set aside as bird sanctuaries, particularly the islands which were free of the vermin that had been introduced to the mainland. One of the enthusiasts in charge of one of our islands had told him that the tui and mocking bird were increasing, and he had noted that they were not teetotaller's. When the peaches were over ripe they sometimes partook too freely of the" fruit and became intoxicated. He thought the disappearance of some of tlie native birds provided the reason why some of the pests of to-dav flourished. To preserve our birds public sympathy should be enlisted, and among those whose help might be sought were the Boy Scouts and the hushmen.

The Hon. G. AI. Thomson supported the Bill. He said that only four species of birds had been absolutely exterminated in New Zealand. The only New Zealand bird which hacl been taken for its plumage was the huia, The last huia. he thought. had been killed on the occasion of the visit to New Zealand of the Duke of York —now King George. The Alaoris at that time made a great demand for huia feathers, and since then the bird had not been seen To-day many native birds were more than holding their own. The Bill was supported by the Hons. D. T. Fleming. .T, Topi Patuki. and Sir James Carroll, and the second reading was agreed to.