Small Birds Nuisance.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 21 July 1891, Page 2

Small Birds Nuisance.

The second reading of the Small Birds Nuisance Bill has been agreed to by the House. It has been framed firstly, to give the local authorities power to spend a portion of their rates towards the destruction of any kind of birds which,' by their excessive increase have become, or threaten to become, injurious to crops of any kind. It further provides, that on the local authority receiving a petition signed by the majority of the ratepayers to raise a special rate for ihis purpose, they shall do go. The second portion, that we . desire to direct attention to, is, that the Minister of Lands is to be the sole judge of the necessity of such poisoning, as if the local body does not see fit to do so, the Minister secures the power to do so and to recover the cost from any local body. The Minister has made one more stride towards absolute' monarchy, he rules the lands, now means to rule the air to breathe, and may possibly 100 a

develope into the ruler of the Queen's navy. At any rate he has got his hand on the lever that can extract at his will, three thirty-second parts of a penny in the pound from a Riding, one thirty second part of a penny in the pound from a County, and one half-penny in the pound on the rateable value of any Borough. This is fcue " Liberalism, ' do'what ybulik'e^ only do what I say, if not, I will make you.