THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13036, 1 April 1910, Page 4

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

The Hon. Mr Bnddo has again displayed his vacillating weakness, this time in connection with the shooting season. He has been unable to resist the pressure brought to bear upon him by sportsmen in. various parts of the Dominion, who have urged that the Government should go back on its decision and suspend the_section of tbe Animals Protection Act which provides for 1910 being a close season for game. He has decided to permit the shooting of certain classes of game for a period of one month from May 14th next—but the privilege is only extended to those districts or rather to those sportsmen who have applied for an open season. There is no question that game is not nearly so plentiful in New Zealand as in former years, and the decision to observe periodical “close” seasons was a wise one. We take with a grain of salt the statements about game being so plentiful in certain districts that farmers are suffering from its depredations, and have threatened to poison the birds if they are not shot. AVe are inclined to think that the applications for the suspension of the “close” season are prompted more by selfish motives than by any other consideration. It may be some little consolation to those districts which have not applied for the suspension of the Act—Wanganui amongst the number—to know that birds disturbed in adjoining districts where the ban has been removed will find their way to the protected parts, and next year sport will be more plentiful in the latter.