THE KEA

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1929, Page 7

THE KEA

A return given by the Department o! Agriculture shows the amounts expend" ed annually by the Department for heads of Keas since 1898-99.. The Department's present records, unfortunately, do not show the amount of the original subsidy, or the date from which it was paid in respect of Keas killed, but it is of interest to note Huron January Ist, 1907, the subsidy was increased to one shilling, whilst it was increased again on October Ist, 1920 to five shillings per head, since when that amount has been paid. The amounts paid by the Govern ment for the slaughter of keas since 1898-99 have been as follows: —

1898-99, £24; 1899-00, £2O; 1900-01 £25; 1901-02, £8; 1902-03, £2O; 1903 01. £l4; 1904-05, £23; 1905-06, £24: 19(9!5-07, £l3; 1907-08 (when the sub sidy was increased to Is per head). £64; 190 S-09, £4B; 1909-10. £54; 1910-11, £49; 1911-12, £6O; 1912-15 £54; 1913-14, £65; 1914-15, £62: 1915-16, £39; 1916-17, £sl; 1917-18. £138; 1918-19, £7B; 1919-20, £l6. £ 1920- ‘271 1921- '2 1520 1922- 1229 1923- 1006 1924-25 '729 l n *5-26 974 1926- 767 1927- 763 Total to date ... £8238 As will lie seen from this return tli ,k shu filter since the Great War has been prodigiou.s no less than £.259 bavin;' been paid since 1919 lor the kilhii", of these birds. Worked out at ihe shillings per head tlrs shows that upwards of 29,000 keas have been slain since 1919, and paid for by the New Zealand taxpayers.