NIGHTINGALES NOT WANTED IN DOMINION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 10

NIGHTINGALES NOT WANTED IN DOMINION

CARGO OF BIRDS ON WAY ' | 1 Although a cargo of English nightingales is on its way to New Zealand, the birds may not be al* i lowed to land here. - j The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society has received a letter ; from the Internal Affairs Department, stating that no authority has been , given to introduce nightingales into ! the Dominion, and that special instructions have already been issued to prevent such birds from landing without authority. In a letter to the society, Mr. J. Hislop, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, said: “I have to .inform you that it is against the policy of the Government to allow imported birds to be placed on sanctuaries such as the Little Barrier, which have been specially set apart for the preservation of indigenous birds, and even if it should be decided to allow nightingales to be introduced to the Dominion, such perI mission would be subject to their not I being liberated on Little Barrier or any j other island sanctuary. I j “The attention of shipping com- [; panies was drawn to the fact that perJ mits to ship birds must be obtained. in March last year the late Mr. Bol- .: lard made a statement of the Governi I ment’s intention to see that the rep quirements of the Act were complied with. The High Commissioner’s Office has been fully advised of the position, L and as far as lam aware the shipping companies will not take birds known to be for the Dominion without the } authority from that office, which in turn does not issue authority unless evidence is forthcoming that the birds are permitted to land.” The New Zealand Native Bird Pro- [ tection Society has issued notices in , Maori which are to be placed in all ' Maori villages and settlements, urging ’ the preservation of the native birds of ’ New Zealand. 3 Other placards and notices, printed ; in English, are being placed in prom- - inent positions in both town and | country. Good work is being done by the society, which is urging all New Zea- ! landers to. “Cherish your heritage.”