THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7722, 4 June 1903, Page 3

THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE

A CONFERENCE. The statutory conference of delegates of local bodies in connection with the small birds nuisance was held this morning in the Selwyn County Council Chambers. Mr C. S. Harper, chairman of the Ashburton County Council, occupied the chair. There were also present — Messrs Dunlop (Selwyn County Council), Bruce (Akaroa County Council), Davidson (Amuri County Council), Hodgson (Cheviot County Council), Greig (Amberley Town District), Daly (Kaiapoi Borough Council), Richardson (Woolston Road Board), Radcliffe (Lyttelton Borough Council), Carmichael (Rangiora Borough Council), M'Lean (Kowai Road Board), Atkinson (Cust Road Board), A. Wrigjlt (Oxford Road Board), J. Wright (Eyreton Road Board) and Hunter (West Eyreton Road Board), H. Davis (Ashburton Borough Council), and Sir George Cliffordl (Waipara Road Board). The chairman read the circular appointing the times and places of the various^gnfeiences in the South Island districts. Tie said! that tho duty of the conference was to decide upon and recommend to the Government a suitable day for the commencement of the work of destroying injurious birds and to consider the best methods of doing so. The Government chemist had suggested a new method of poisoning. Ten pounds of wheat were sprinkled with a gallon of new milk and then with powdered! strychnine. This was Very good if it could be spread at once, but unfortunately it would not keep. The Ashburton County Council soaked wheat with strychnine in hot water, and'this was very effective and would »keep indefinitely. Mr W. Dunlop said that the question of representation on the conference needed attention. His County Council was outvoted by Road Boards. Mr Greig moved that an executive of seven should be set up, to consist of representatives of the Selwyn, Ashley and Ashburton County Councils, the Christchurch Oity Council, tho Akaroa Road Board and the Kowai and Waipara Road Boards. At tho suggestion of the chairman, he held over this motion. * Mr Horrell said that the Act specified the sparrow, the yellow hammer and the goldfinch as noxious birds. He thought that the sky-lark, the blackbird arid tho thrush should be included, the former being particularly troublesome. Some discussion took place in regard to the day on whioh poisoning should commence. The chairman said that the local bodies should recognise the importance of combined effort in the matter. If one body stood idle, its area formed a haven for the birds. Mr Dunlop said that some power was required to make the centres assist in tho work.' The birds bred wholesale in the city amd boroughs, and then spread. over the country. Of course, poisoning was out of the question in a closely populated district, but the birds could bo trapped. It was decided that June 15 ' should be the day for commencing poisoning. The chairman said that it Avoukl bo a good thing, if some uniform price for eggs and heads were fixed. Boys were in the habit of pickling heads.', and talcing them to the best market. Mr Horrell said tljat his district had tried buying birds at' sixpence per dozen, but this had not brought in very many. He thought that the Government chemist's method of poisoning was the best known. As regarded the boroughs, he thought that the County Councils should strike a rate to cover all expenditure on poisoning. This would make the centres pay their fair share. Hs moved that the- methods to be recommended should be k by poisoning and trapping. Sir George Clifford said that the conditions varied considerably in the different districts, and it Avould he unwise to make any fixed rules. Mr Radcliffe said that the towns should be left to decide on their own methods. Mr Horreli's motion was seconded and cairried. Some "discussion took place with regard to the price to be paid for heads and eggs. It was urged) by two delegates that, as their Boards laid and distributed, poisoned grain, they would be paying twice over if they bought heads. The chairman said that the small birds nuisance was/ so serious that some duplication of payment should not be regarded as an obstacle in the way of a successful method. Mr Radcliffe said that the hoys wer© the real factors in dealing with the birds, and a good price must be paid to encourage them to work. Sir George Clifford said that for his sparsely-settled district to buy heads would, be simply waste of money. The birds would remain untouched on the large runs. The oply effective method in such a district Would be to distribute poisoned grain. It was eventually decided that, where the local authorities decided on purchasing birds, the price should not exceed sixpence per dozen during tho period from June 15 to Nov. 1. Referring to the methods of poisoning, the chairman said that it would be risky for the local bodies to sell ,or give strychnine to farmers. There would be. sure to be accidents. The plant for poisoning wheat effectively was fairly expensive. Mr Ricfyardson said that perhaps the Ashburton County Council could supply the other local authorities with poisoned grain. Councillor Davidson said that good might be effected by importing such birds as the English owl and the Australian jackass. Mr Radcliffe moved that th« Ashburton Council, which had „ complete plant, should be appointed to supply poisoned wheat. The chairman said that he could not agree to this. It would be rathe? a large order for his Council. Mr Richardson saidl that the City of Christchurch should take its share, of the work. It was decided that it should be a recommendation to the Government to include tho sky-l ar k)' hlackbird and thrush in the list of noxious birds. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. t [Per Pbess Association.] TIMARU, June 4. At a conference under the Birds Nuisance Act held hero to-day, delegates ijroin five counties and five boroughs -were present. Th© following resolutions were passed: — (1) Affirming tho necessity for united action ; (2) recommending the first woek in the months of July, August, September and October for simultaneous poisoning by local , bodies, and that no poisoning- bo done in tho intervals; (3) that the Government be asked to offer a bonus- of £500 for th© most effective method of dealing with the small birds pest. INVERCARGILL, June 4. A meeting of delegates from the County Councils, the Road Boards and the Borough Councils resolved to recommend the Governor to fix the first week in July for small bird destructiop, and that general poisoning should be the method. Tlie conference adjourned for a week, when a motion asking the Minister of Agriculture to administer tho Act and charge the local bodies pro rata will be considered. Eucalyptus is often adulterated. " Tracker " Brand is pure.. All stores. V A ■ ■ '...,. ;-■ ;*-■- —-■•■■ ___'■■ 1988