THE ROBBER ROOK.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 25 November 1927, Page 9

THE ROBBER ROOK.

(To the Editor). Sir,—The farmers and settlers in and around the Hastings district will heartily endorse the letters Messrs. Bosock and Rich, which appeared in the “Tribune” regarding the rook menace. The existence of these notorious pests can be traced to the apathy of the farmers who should unite together and wipe out the vermin for all time. They have a precedent as to how the settlers and fruitgrowers of Queensland deal with the flocks of cockatoos which raid their plantations and do enormous damage. A battue is formed and the cockies are slaughtered in hundreds. A few rook drives well organised, together with systematic poisoning at the proper time of the year by all farmers, similar to the organisations in Canterbury for the destruction of sparrows, would lessen the numbers of the rooks to a great extent. The base of operations, however. should start at the rookerq at Fernhill. I have no hesitation in saying that had the rookerv been situated for instance on Farmer Hodge’s holding, it would have ceased to exist many years ago. The County Council has shown scant sympathy to the complaints of the farmers regarding the depredations of the rooks. I venture to sav that had any of these nests been cauerht in the act of gall" ing the eyes out of a newly dropped lamb their r'-istenoe would he banned >n Hawke’s Ray province for all time. One of the remedies suggested bv Mr. Rich is an the right lines. If the County Council sidetracks the rook nuisance the farmers must substitute men who will tackle the pest in a whole-hearted manner.—l am, etc., SMALL CCiCKIE. Hastings. 24/11/27.