'SORRY, BUT...'

Taupo Times, Volume 20, Issue 6, 26 January 1971, Page 1

'SORRY, BUT...'

A couple of months ago an eight-year-old Taupo boy wrote to the Prime Minister requesting permission to keep a pet wallaby. He promised he would not let it be a nuisance to the Government or to the Mayor of Taupo. Several days later a very official-looking letter was received, advising that the "nice letter ' had been forwarded to the Minister of Forests for "consideration of the request." A fortnight later, the following letter was received, signed by K. H. Miers, for A. L. Poole, Director-General of

the New Zealand Forest Service. Dear , "Your letter to the Prime Minister asking if you could have a wallaby as a pet has been given to me for a reply, as my Department is responsible for the control of wallabies in New Zealand. "I am very sorry, but I cannot let you have a wallaby as a pet in Taupo. This is because wallabies do not normally live in the Taupo district and the Government and the Mayor of Taupo would not be very happy if any pet wallabies escaped and started a wild colony, as they can do a lot of damage to small trees and people s gardens. "If you want a wild animal as a pet I would suggest that perhaps

you couid get a baby opossum and look after it. You would need the permission of the Mayor as well as the Forest Service to keep it, but as long as it was held in a suitable cage there should be no problems At this time of the year baby opossums are a bit big to tame easily. Your father may know of someone who traps opossums who could obtain a baby one for you towards the end of next winter. "With kind regards, Needless to say, father heaved a sigh; but he has had a reprieve, as the small boy is now thinking of obtaining permission to keep an eagle.