The Small Bird Nuisance

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 May 1915, Page 2

The Small Bird Nuisance

CONFJiRJfiNCE x>l ,, LOCAL BODIES. A coniereiice of representatives of local bodies, willed by the Horowhenua Fruitgrowers' Association, was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. There wero present:—Mr (J. Wateon (Horowhenua Couinty Council), Messrs J. C. Neill, I\l. x'osella and .Newport (Horowhenua .fruitgrowers' Association), Messrs X. ivirkcaddie and S. A. Broadbolt (Horowhenua A. and 1\ Society), Messrs H. j. Richards, F. Retter, E. M. Herrick (Farmers' Union). Messrs H. Bower and G. P. Broivn (poultrymen), Mr H. Nicol&on, (Otaki Town Board),. 31 r 1 , . W. Goldsmith (Levin Borough Council), and Mr T. AV. Kirk, of the Agricultural Department. An apology for non-attendance waa received from Mr AV. H. Field. M.P. Mr Kirk said that there was an Injurious Small Bird Act in two parts. One part of it provided ior local bodies taking united action for dealing wiMi the small bird pest. The pissl. some years ago took a lot oi Ins time. He agreed that the sparrow did good, but his wages were a great cl<>al too high ; hut with the starling it was different Taken all the year round he wae t'ho Lest hird in New Zealand for the goucral farmer and the poultry fiirmer. He admitted that on the latter they levied a heavy roll at feeding time and he sympathised with poultry farmers. The first part of the Small Birds' A»t applied to the South Island, and the second part to the rest oi New Zealand, and it empowers local bodies to lay poison on roads and private lands, levy a rate, and expend its funds to combat the pest. He did not think the voluntary scheme of raising fun'de Avonld act. Tlie first need was systematic and simultaneous poisoning, and payment for heads. They would have to suspend payment tor the time they were poisoning, or they would he paying lor the heads of birds they poisened themselves. The small boy was the worst enemy the small birds had — if given sufficient inducement. The first recommendation that the Horowhenua County Council he aeked to pay b'd per dozen lor blackbirds' eggs and dozen tor other small birds' eggs, an increase ol 50 per cent in the present prices, was moved b> Mr Xeill.

Mr Herrick thought it was a good idea to offer a bonus to the boy collecting the largest number of eggs. Mr Richards considered. that the Council would have to pay for heads as well a« eggs. It was done in other parts of the country. Mr Newport said he had noticed that the thrush was not a fruit eater, but an insectivorous bird. He looked upon the thrush as one of the most valuable birds introduced into the Dominion. He would "like them to be protected. Air "Watson said that he had strawIjorries and the only bird that troubled him were thrushes. He had bhot a lot last season and would like to have siiot more. .\ir Hichaids agreed that the thrusii dui damage to small fruits. Air Ketter would like the starling protected; it was an insectivorous uird. Air Bower condemned the starling and the sparrow. They were particularly severe on the poultry feed. At piesent he wars feeding a of several hundreds of both starlings and .iparrows. Air lletter said that before the stalling was brought 'into the . country there was a pest of caterpillars. jJut for the (starling Air Bower would not have any grain for his fowls. Air Aeill (said that the bird, fund would be .administered as the local oudies thought best for the destruction of the pest. Some of the school uaehers objected to the destruction of oirds, and only a few encouraged the children to collect eggs aiid heads. He moved that the recommendation be

agreed to. .;'*' .Mr Richards said that if it included starlings he would vote against it. Mr Broadbelt thought the schedule of small birds to be so dealt with could well be left to the County Council. The recommendation was carried. The second proposal moved by Mr Neill was that bluokbirdsj linnets' sparrows' silver eyes' and nuchee' lieacle be paid for at the rate ol (>d per dozen. He said they were not asking the County Council to do any poisoning; all they wanted was the Council to pay lor heads and eggs. Mr Broadbelt thought it best if the Council took charge of the poisoning; it then would be done systematically. Mr Richards eaid the Council eome years ago had provided poisoned grain free, but people would not even come and get it to lay for the small birds. Mr Kirk said that that was the experience- of other local bodies. The recommendation was agreed. The third proposal was that the Otaki Town Board and the Levin Borough Council be asked to pay for small birds' eggs and heads at the same pikes; that the second week in August of each year be fixed as an anti-bird week and during that week a vigorous campaign againet tlio post ho carried out. Mr Goldsmith said the trouble was , that the birds did not recognise boundaries of local bodies. ThjJ. amount l>akl out was a small mattei, and h<> did not think the Borough Council should be brought into it. Mr K&hards said that the boroughs bred more sparrows and small birde than the country districts.

air Urown considered that the borong!' should certainly oe brought into the scheme. The borough payments oouhl l)o iiiTiiiifiot! on iin acreage basis. The poisoning shoiiild be carried out by the council, if left to individuals it ■would he unsatisfactory. Mr Nicolson said tTiat tho Otaki Town Board was quite agreeable to fall in with any suggestion made by the conference to deal with tho pest. The proposal was agreed to. The fifth proposal was that a voluntary fund be raieed on a' basis of Id per acre on general farm lands, 3b per acre on orchards, and 2s per 100 head of poultry, and that a committee

of representatives of the local bodies adniinistci 1 the fund. Mi JN'oill said that if the €feunty Council took charge of the sohejno it would be an improvement on the proposal- When making the above suggestion the Fruitgrowers' Association did not know that the Council would take up the matter of poisoning. Mr Kirkcaldie thought the fruitgrowers' idea could bo worked in conjunction with the Council's action. Mr Goldsmith enquired why tho County Council had given up giving out poisoned grain? People still called at tlie Council offices enquiring for it. Mr Watson said that they could not give it away and it had been left in the office so long that when given out it only fattened the birds. Mr Nclll said that it would pay thorn to get a canvasser to "travel tin; district und get the farmers to take action. Every farmer admitted the need of it when spoken to on the matter. The proposal was agreed to. The sixth proposal was that tlie Government he asked to remove the protection from Oalifornian quail and hares.' —. ■ Mr said it was almost impossible- tt> establish a young orchard where the hares were numerous without a heavy expenditure on wireuetting to protect the young trees. Quail were very destructive and preyed heavily on small fruits, vegetables, grain and seed of all kinds. Mr. Foeella said that in Italy th<> people used the small birds Sis food and considered them a delicacy. li" they were to give a banquet of small birds to people hereabouts, they would .like the small birds so muds that henceforth they would be hunted with great energy (laughter). The proposal was agreed to. Referring to the cost of dealing with the pest. Mr Richards thoufikt if a sum was placed on the. Council estimates to deal with the, small bird pest it .would be better that striking a special rate. Mr Watson said tlla'r he thought the County Council would do it at its special meeting on Saturday next. He would support it. • Mr Neill wished to know it the money set aside by the Council to deal with the pest, would be handed over to the local bodies' committee, or would the Council take direct charge? It was understood that the County Council woußl retain control. In connection with poisoning Mr Kirk said that in parts oP the South ]grand a oart went round distributing clean grain about the roads, and a few days latep- went round again with poisoned grain. if had proved successful. A deputation consisting of Messrs •) • C. Neill, H. J. Richards, and' G. P. (Brown was. appointed to wait on the County Council at its special meeting next Saturday and bring the resolutions under ite notice. Mr Kirk, in reply to a question, said thai freshly-poisoned grain was by far the best; old grain ha<T a musty, sour smell. Ploisonod pollard also was effective, but was not easy to distribute. He would be only too pleased to help them in any way. By poisoning fruit they got; blackbirds very easily. These birds would take poisoned raisins if put on a platform. ff partly eaten fruit was poisoned it would succeed also in catching blackbirds.

Votes of thanks were passed to .Mr T. "W. Kirk .for attending tlio conference and to Mr Watson for presiding