PASSING OF THE PIGEON

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1914, Page 4

PASSING OF THE PIGEON

THE Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister for Internal Affairs, has, apparently determined to stop the slaughter of the native pigeon. When the white man first arrived in New Zealand the pigeon was almost as numerous as the sparrows are at present; it was also so tame that it would almost hop on to the muzzle of his gun ~ and wait to be shot. The earlypioneer, however, as a general rule did not shoot the pigeon , merely for the pleasure of shooting it; in most cases he shot it to provide food for himself and family. No one could quarrel with him for doing that. As the population increased, however, the slaughter of the pigeon became more general, and so-called sportsmen went out with the express intention of getting a big bag. They were out to slay, and the pigeon sat quietly on a" tree and was murder pure and simple. Now the pigeon is so- scarce that to see it is almost an event, and despite close seasons it is getting scarcer and scarcer, and unless the powers that be can devise some means of stopping :^ the irresponsible and callous person with a gun, bids fair eventually to become wholly extinct. This isn't desirable.— " Budget."