PUNT-EATING ANIMALS.

Shannon News, 19 April 1929, Page 3

PUNT-EATING ANIMALS.

BIRDS ARE BETTER FRIENDS OP ,THEBUSH.

"Here in New Zealand we are faced /with a forest problem unknown in any other country." These are vital words affecting the whole of New Zealand and every industry, says the N.Z. Native Bird Protection Society,' in a circular to members, ' This Dominion cannot take its allotted future position as the Britain of the South unless we realise this and .'at accordingly, but must be content with a future of benevolent poverty. The essential matter is that plant-eat-ing animals are fatal to our forests. Remove these animals and the forests become more fire' resisting,, regenerate rapidly, and many think would in tirno push out most exotics which may have taken a hold in thtm. When one cornea to realise that, the authorities who have charge of wild' life matters have in the past been active in efforts to introduce, breed, and distribute planteating animals, we must realise that we have been paying salaries and other costs in order that"our future prosperity may be made impossible. The tackling of the undoing of all this damage, amounting to goodness knows how many millions, is more than a mansized job, and itXbehoves the public to realise the enormity of the mistakeTake for instance those great areas of poor, rough land, forming the district around our world's, famous southern sounds. The traversing of this is diffiault in the extreme and hampered by excessive rain. .If the moose, wapiti, deer, goats, thar, and other, animals present cannot be economically exter"minated then these wonderful scenic •attractions are doomed as such. We have time and time again been warned of the danger of animals in our forests by' the most skilled experts in our forest matters, but the controlling Department which handles sport has in the past been content to go its own sweet way and .accept the suggestion of interested laymen who know little or nothing of the likely results of such work. As for instance, were wo so unfortunate .as to. let foot-and-mouth disease obtain a hold, restrictions would be placed on the import of our wool, etc., by other countries.. Deer and other animals spread the disease and would have to be exterminated, other wis? we might as well put up our shutters. . We arc hopeful that at last the situation is being realised and that the matter may be taken in hand in a statesmanlike manne.-. We trust that if such is the case, as is fondly hoped, "the public will appreciate the efforts and assist. This Society is now having posters and literature prepared dealing with the matter, and we feel sure our members will willingly help in the distribution ind exhibition of these, and that concession's will be given i for their free display by other organisations-. . American Collecting Expedition.—A party has recently landed here fromthat most Anti-British city of all American cities, Chicago, with the avowed 'object of collecting specimens of our native birds. It is the policy of the Department which sees to such matters to issue no permits whatever to foreigners, but if any skins are granted "thev will -be* collected by Government apposes*.'-" The party was therefore refused' permission to take any .

birds, i Bird Charts. —The Department - of Education has again signified its willingness to assist us to product these for the schools. We receive many requests for s-uch illustrations and the matter will be again taken in hand.