LIVE HAWK IN SHOW

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 178, 14 August 1937, Page 19

LIVE HAWK IN SHOW

Exhibit Described as Deplorable ! A statement that the exhibit was a very deplorable one was , made with reference to a live hawk on view in the ' court. of. flie Whangarei Acclimatisar 'tion Society at- the last wipter exhibition. ' ° A letter from the secretary of the local branch of the S.P.C.A. was received at a nieeting of the exhibition commiftee this week. "We rcceived numerous complairits about the live native hawk," the letter read, "and our inspector ascertained that it was confined in a box measuring 21 inches by 9 inches for a period of ten days at least. My society takes strong exception to this and considers the exhibit was a very deplorable one, as the bird was quite unable to stretch its wings and , they were observed to be in a lacerated and bleeding condition through being forced' against the netting every time it epdeayoqred to do sol"- - • ...... Mr S, J. Snow, pregident of thd Whangarei Acclimatisatidn Society^ who wag a membeir of the exhibition -committee, said : . "The Acclimatisation Society considers the hawk to b.e ver.min, and we pay for the birds to be shot. The letter misrepTesents the •position when it states 'that the bird was caged for ten days. It -was put in on the Wedpesday? and takeni away on tlie folldwing, Mon.day morning aftet! I had ,received .one complaint. It is also, • mjsrepresenting the position to say that the wings of the hawk were lacerated and;" bleeding. The bird .was owned by aj ranger of the Auckland Accliiuatisation Society .'f , j . v " ! The committee decidedi to. give an assurance that the same exhibit would' not be put into the next show.