Save the Birds.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 381, 9 October 1908, Page 4

Save the Birds.

One of the finest collections of bird- pier tnies we have seen appears iu the Octo be iesue'of “The New Idea.’’ They are the work of Mr Mattingley, and are tued to illustrate an appeal by tho Prime Minister of Australia to women, to save the lives of thousands of innocent birds. AU over the world there has been a great against tbe slaughter, of birds for millinery purposes ; but scarcely one reader in a thou - sand in Australia witnesses some of tho meet repulsive scene* of butchery in the interests of fashion. On the Murray River ere certain swamps, in which the egret builds her neat. When the brooding season is on, the egret grows a beautiful spray of feathers from her back, and thia is the aigrette coverted by the milliner. Then come tho plume hunters, and a scene of desolation follows. The mothers are shot on the nests and flung aside, sometimes only half-dead : the young ones are left to starve. Mr Muttingley found as many as 300 dead birds in a single patch. No wonder Mr Deakin apjieals strongly to Australian women to stop thiseort of thing ; and the “New Idea” deierves praise for its outspokenness on the subject, It is a rather gruesome topic; but by its side, in the October issue, is collection of short bright stories, and the first chapter of a diverting series of ‘‘Experiences of a Mother.” Indeed, the fiction element is very strong, and as bright and wholesome as ever. On the practical side, the advice to girls who want to make their own dreases and toilet accessories may be com mended, whilst a score or more of pages aro devoted to making life for the average housewife brighter and better. We are glad to notice a number of contributions by young Australians, notably some excellent verse by a promising youngster of sixteen. It is worth noting in conclusion, that an amusing pioture-puzzle competition thathas been running for ten months it drawing to a (Jose, but any reader may enter at once, and- have tho opportunity of winning a trip to Japan and back, at the expense of ’‘The New Idea.”,