The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "TE ORA MOTA IWI." TUESDAY, MAY 6,, 1902,

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 76, 6 May 1902, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "TE ORA MOTA IWI." TUESDAY, MAY 6,, 1902,

The question of bird poisoning' again cropped up at the Riwaka Road Board meeting on Friday last, when Mr Charles hry wanted to know what steps had been by the Waimea County Council in >rence to the proposed conference to <wil with the nuisance. Mr Fry said the time to lay poison was drawing nigh, and he thought united action would be far better, than for each local body to take ?* e PS on its own account. The chairman, Mr D. Bate, said he would bring the matter under the notice of the members of the C ouncii at the meeting to be held this w» eek. It is time some comprehensive and effective scheme was discussed and adopted* or complaints are reaching us from all past! th e district concerning the damage do ie by the small birds, not only to the ras oberry and currant crops, but also to th e hops, apples, and grain. The loss during the vear to farmers and fruit growers must be considerable, and it is no wonder they

are sworn foes to those of the feathered tribe which cause the mischief.. If it is any consolation to the sufferers here, we may mention that on looking' over our newspaper files, we notice complaints are made in the press, and at road meetings, con-; ceraing the damage done by the birds. The position is a serious one and prompt action is necessary in the interest of the farmino community. The matter hasbeen discussed time £and again ; talk will not . bring about an improved condition of affairs ; action, united action, is imperative, and if some of our most enterprising settlers set resolutely to work, without unnecessary delay, it will not be too late to get a day or two set apart for universal poisoning. There may be a diversity of opinion as to what is the best poison to use, but the experience of those who have secured the best results, can be taken as a basis of operation. It was stated some time ago that the question of checking the nuisance was to be considered in Cabinet and that a Bill would be introduced dealing with the question. We would advise against waiting for the Government to bring in legislation, as the Bill may suffer the fate ot many other useful measures that have been introduced, and be amongst the innocents” at the close of the session.