PUKEKOS A PEST.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16748, 15 March 1926, Page 4

PUKEKOS A PEST.

OPEN SEASON URGED. MINISTER DECLINES TO AGREE (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. "The pukekos arc so tame in the Waipa district that we nearly ran over half a dozen of them as we drove along the main road. They stood aside on the road like pedestrians till the car went past," said Mr Allan at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A telegram was received from the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (.Mr J. liislop], which read: "In reply lo your letter to the Minister, will forward warrant fixing opening season at an early date. Am recommending that the season for taking or killing pukeko be the same as last year, namely, May 1 to 31. within the counties of Waipa and Piako. It is not considered desirable to have a longer season than one month lo take or kill pukeko, unless special evidence of damage is being caused by these birds."

"It's absolutely absurd," said the president (Mr C. A. Whitney). "The districts are thick with them. They are only eating the feed, and they are a nuisance." Mr E. c. Kelly: The birds could not possibly be wiped out. They do a great deal of damage, not only to crops, but also to duck eggs and ducklings. He moved that a telegram be sent to the Minister urging that an open season be declared for the whole district for one month. The motion was carried.