THE WHITE HERON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16411, 27 April 1921, Page 6

THE WHITE HERON.

QUESTION OF PROSECUTION lt Can you give us any information about the white heron?” Mr R. M. Godfrey asked at the annual meeting of tho North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last night. l don’t know who shot the white heron,” the chairman (Mr M. H. Godby) replied. “ Has any member of the council information as to who shot the bird?” Mr Godfrey asked. “ I can speak only for myself,” the chairman said, “ but I shall ask tho members of the council individually. If any member of the council in the room knows who shot the white heron, and is prepared to divulge the information, I shall be glad to hear him.” There was no response. Mr W. H. Cheeseman said that it was time that the society buried the white heron Mr Godfrey: “Tt is stated outside that proceedings were deferred until the time in which a prosecution could be madi» had elapsed.” .•The chairman spent a long time explaining the law points, and said that he agreed with tho society's solicitor that white herons were not “ native game,” under the Act, and that the person who had the shot specimen in his possession consequently could not be prosecuted for having it in his possession. He thought that the Minister for Internal Affairs, who held that the species was “ native game,” was mistaken Mr H. Mulholland asked why the ranger was not taken off stripping to prosecute in the case of the white heron. The ranger had been taken off stripping to prosecute two lads at Woodend. Mr L. A. Shand (chairman of the committee) said that he had given no instructions to the ranger to leave stripping in order to prosecute anybody. Mr W. S. Godfrey said that the white heron was shot on the Kaituna side of the lake. He saw the bird pass him, and ho heard a shot fired, apparently at it. The meeting went on to deal with other subjects, and no motion in regard to the white heron was passed.