BREEDING OF QUAIL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 165, 30 July 1937, Page 5

BREEDING OF QUAIL

Our Own Correapflndont.)

Rotorua State Farra

(From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A proposal is xxnder coneideration for the breeding of quail, 'in addition to pheasants, at the State. Game Farm, Ngongjataha, Rotorua. The Minister of Internal Affairs, lie Hon. W. E. Parry, stated that while at Rotorua last week he had (RscUssed with the Consexvator of Fish ' and Game, Mr A. Kean, and the curator, Mr J. Digby, the question of addlng quail to the actxvities of the game farm. ^ It would he necessary, the Minister said, to secixre some good stock birds and those wero no doubt obtainable in the South Island, He was arranging for the Department of Internal Affairs to conduct some inquixnes. Mr Pan-y said he had been infonur ed by sportsmen that quail, whjdh were fairly numerous at the begonning of the season seemed suddenly to he disappearing from many parts of the Noxth Island. He had heen informed by a Hawke's Bay sportsman that there had been an epidemio among the hen birds. Referring to the controversy existing among gun sportsmen as to fhe advisability of liberating ihe mallard duck in the North Island Mr PerKy said it. had been noticeable amofig shooters, with whom he hld discusaed the matter, that there was a distinct swaying of opinion in favour of the liberation of the mallard to replace an apparent shortage of water game birds. It was held by .some, he saidK that. the rouen was more responsible for the dwindling grey duck than the mallard. All the hybrids that were seen to-day were held by thesSe sportsniien to he from rouen Btock.