“BIRD MONTH.”

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1931, Page 5

“BIRD MONTH.”

RESPONSES IN SCHOOLS. OAMARU, August 29. The appeal by the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society to regard August as “Bird Month” has met with a fairly good response in the schools of North Otago. In a number of instances ihe children have Been given interesting talks bn the protection and preservation of native bird life and essays on the subject have been promoted. - Apart from this form of instruction, however, inquiries reveal the fact that jn Oamaru there is not a bookseller with literature for sale relating" to the fauna of New Zealand. It was stated that only one or two books, of cheaper editions, were ever sold, there being no inquiry for such works. Schools even did not trouble to include a certain proportion of books on New Zealand fauna and flora when making tlxeir requirements for prize-giving purposes. In contrast to this the proprietor of the largest second-hand bookshopin the town said that he no sooner received a book on New Zealand bird or plant life than it was purchased. He attributed the demand to the cheaper price he was able to quote, compared with the relatively high value placed on such books by publishers. He was of opinion that informative, but cheaper editions, would find a ready sale. The Waitaki Boys’ High School has a fine selection of literature dealing with.the bird and plant life of the Dominion, while the Oamaru Athenaeum is also well equipped, but the Athenaeum has little call for additional books on the subject as the principal demand by subscribers is confined to fiction.