“AUCTOR” AND “LECTOR.”

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18406, 13 August 1931, Page 9

“AUCTOR” AND “LECTOR.”

THE BALANCE OF NATURE. "Lector": “I see they are making this ‘Bird Month’ In New Zealand. Funny thing that, isn't it?—a 'Bird Month!' Whoever heard of that before ?" "Auctor”: "Yes, It's strange, but when you come to examine the facts you will find that the only thing funny about it Is that It has never been held before.” "Lector”: “Perhaps. But, then, you see, I know so little about it that I am seeking Information."

"Auctor": "The Idea is to create public sentiment in favour of our native birds, and so secure their protection. The project has been launched by the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society, which is devoting a whole month to it, and it has chosen the month of August because this is the hardest month of the year for birds, when the food supply is lowest and the weather conditions severest, and birds need the greatest protection Also the society is taking advantage of tills special effort to hold an art union with which to raise money in order to enable It carry on its educational work in the future."

"Lector”: "I begin to see, but, stld, there are plenty of birds about, aren’t there?"

“Auctor”: "Yes, plenty of birds, but not native birds. This campaign is in favour of the native birds—part of the 'scheme of things' designed by an All-Wise Providence. They, along with some Imported birds, represent the balance of Nature. They live on grubs, blight, and insects, and so prevent them front becoming a menace to our grasses, plant life, and forests. Also, with the winds, they are the greatest distributors of seeds, and so help to carry on the Divine plan of creation! ‘No native birds, no native forests,’ Is the motto of the Native Bird Protection Society. So it follows : no forests, no timber, and no forests, then sudden and oft-repeated floods, which sweep away farm lands and cause enormous damage to the country."

"Lector": “I had never thought of that."

“Auctor": "No, like thousands of others, you don't think. Yet it is only common sense. The salient fact is that the native birds of a country are the birds intended by Providence for the good of that particular country. It is so in the case of New Zealand, but man, as always, has been the great destroyer. Our native birds, the finest songsters in the world, the most useful in our forests, and the most rare and Interesting in their species, have been largely exterminated, and unless we can restore the balance we are likely to pay a very heavy price for our folly. The public of New Zealand can help in this b;,' backing up the efforts of the New Zealand Bird Protection Society."