POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11645, 24 August 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

(From our Parliamentary Special) (By Telegraph.)

DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE BIRDS. - WELLINGTON, August. 23.,

Mr Taylor asked the Colonial Se,cr,eiary whether he will take steps to prevent the wanton destruction of native MrdsTm-'the bush adjacent to the WanganUi Rs#er by passengers and others on the steamers plying on that river, who it is alleged' shoot indiscriminately at anything i'ttHhe shape of a bird. • l '' ■ The Ministerial reply was afi follows: — Steps have already been taken in this &vrection, and the' steamship proprietors on the river have undertaken to* jhse their best endea.vours to protect bird/lrfe. When the .proposed scenic areas on \thel banks of the river, ' recommended by the Scenery Preservation .Commissioners, are. brought under the Scenery Preservation Act, it will be "possible to effectively' protect the native fauna as has been done elsewhere.

•A. CHEAP POLICE FORCE.

Compared with the other Australasian colonies, New Zealand does riot pay too deafly for its police. In this colony there is one policeman to every 1375 of the inhabitants, and the cost pcr v inhabitant is 2s 10£ d. Victoria has one policeman to every 798 inhabitants, and the cost per inhabitant is 4s 6£d. For the other colonies the figures are: — New South Wales, one to 199, cost 6s lsd per inhabitant; South Australia, one to 999, cost 4s Ofd per inhabitant; Queensland, one to 598, cost 6s Ofd per inhabitant; Western. Australia, one to 480, cost 10s 7fd per inhabitant; Tasmania, one to 766, cost 3s 2d per inhabitant.

TO SAVE THE ORCHARDS.

Mr Field has given notice to ask the Minister for Agriculture when -it is "proposed to put the Orchard and Garden Pests Act in operation on the west. -coast of the North 'lsland, where there are numerous - valuable ' orchards going to destruction for 'want of proper attention, and whether, to prevent this national, loss, hte -wilY at' once appoint- a-, competent, and energetic man to' inspect the orchards in question, and give directions as to the consideration" of pests.