THE MUTTON BIRO SEASON.

Western Star, 10 January 1919, Page 4

THE MUTTON BIRO SEASON.

DATE OF OPENING

About fifty natives assembled' ini the Land Board Room, Invercargill, on Tuesday to discussi ai petition! that has been presented to Parliament praying that the regulations of May 7, 1912, dealing with the taking of mutton birds from the Titi Islands should be amended. The Commissioner of Crown Lands! (Mr H. D. M.jHasizard) presided. Geo. Skerrctt said they all broket tbo regulations by catching the,*

birds before April 1, as it was necessary to take them far food)- He| submitted, that the regulations should be altered, so- as to; give them the right to catch the- birds, before April 1. He had visited the islands since 1881. In reply to thei Chairmaju, the witness said the birds were in a suitable condition for commercial purposes l by March 20.

George Howell said that on previous occasions be had advocated, alterations in the regulations- ■ When their forefathers went to the) islands they could take assistance without objections being raised by] others, but now it was' different, and the original owners, tooi old- to go themselves, were placed in a, difficult position. The only aid they could get would be -from, Europeans, as there were so few) Maoris. In reply to the • Chairman, ; the witness said the birds were well) enough matured to- be taken on, March 20.

J. Wixon supported the petition. A. Russel was one of those who, thought April 1 should be the date on which killing should start. They would be fit for cooking before that date, but not for salting. R. Whaitiri and Mrs King alsq stated that March 20 would be toot early, as the birds would not them be fit to be dressed for market, and would deteriorate- The latter said she knew of merchants in the North Island who had complained of the) condition of the birds because they had been taken too soon.

W. Spencer stated that a local dealer had been dissatisfied with the birds, and said if no improvement was made he would go to Tasmania for supplies. ' That was because they were caught too early in the season.

The Chairman explained that the petition asked that the natives be allowed to land on the islands oni March 1 and! to commence killing on March 20.

T. Gilroy, Jno- Stirling, Tho® Te An, H. Martin, Hannah Topi Putaki, and Hon. J. Topi Putaki also 1 spoke. Tho question was then put to the xneeting, those in! favour of the natives being permitted to land on the islands on March 15 and to; open the season April 1 numbering 31, while the proposal! that killing start on March 20 was supported by only five of those present. No- 7 of the regulations was then, considered, and the meeting unanimously favoured the amendment, that if three-fourths of the beneficial owners were in favour other; natives could be allowed to go oxx the islands. At present the regulation provides that all the beneficial owners must give their consent. The Coramissioxxer was thanked for the patient hearing he had given the speakers, and iix reply he said he would report the X'esult of the meeting to the Department.