PIGEONS SHOT
INCIDENT AT WAIMANA
THREE SPORTSMEN PROSECUTED
"We know this sort of thing is going on and 1 my Department is asking for a heavy penalty in order to try and stamp it out," said Mr King the Conservator of Fishing and Game when bringing formal prosecution against Edward Wardlaw, S. McConnell and Edward Addison of Waimana for illegally taking protected game—to wit nativei pigeons, on April 26 last.
The evidence showed that Ranger Smith, of the Rotorua district, had been posted to the Waimana area in order to put a stop to the prao tice which was known to be extensive. When apprehended the men had thirteen birds: in their game' bags. To their credit it had to< be said that they offered no resistance and had assisted the ranger in his work. Perhaps the worst aspect was the fact that a fourteen year old boy, the son of one of the defendants was also in the party and carried a gun, though there was no evidence that he had used it.
Mr B. S. Barry l'or the defence' said that all three defendants were respectable residents of Waimana who had gone out pig hunting. Having had no luck they could not resist the temptation to shoot the birds. When accosted they had been quite frank andj without their assistance the Ranger could not have got out of the bush lumbered with their weapons and game bags. They therefore arranged to* take the gear out on their lorry] and to allow the Ranger to call for it later. Counsel added that actually he believed they could have legally re-, fused to hand it over later had they so desired. The boy had merely gone with his father and had noit even fired his gun. He appealed l for the retention of the weapons on the grounds that they were valuable and were now used in Home Guardi training.
The Conservator saicl he had! an authority from the Minister of Internal Affairs not to confiscate the guns which would! be returned.
The Magistrate remarked that in view of the return of the; weapons he would fine each offender £7 10s and costs <20.s
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 61, 5 June 1942, Page 5
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364PIGEONS SHOT Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 61, 5 June 1942, Page 5
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