THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8556, 15 October 1907, Page 4

THE SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

The Masterton Fruitgrowers' Association appear to be d»ing their best to deal with the small birds nuisance, as far as orchards are concerned, but from financial reasons are unable to extend their operations to the "grain - eaters." Farmers, generally, are no doubt interested in any effort to abate the nuisance, and it was with this object in view that the Fruitgrowers' Association wrote to the meeting of the general committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association on Saturday last, asking that Association to take, some action in regard to destroying small birds. The Association appeared to think that the Masterton County Council were the proper body to deal with the matter, and refei-red the letter to them. The County Council have legal power to spend money on the purchase of birds' eggs, heads, etc., and the A. and P. Association probably had this in mind when they referred the letter to the Council. The matter vitally 1 concerns farmers, and as the Association is a body composed largely of the farming interests, one would naturally think that some steps should be taken by them to assist' in combating the nuisance. It appears that even poisoned grain is not obtainable in Masterton. Recently . an. Opaki farmer, who was sowing wheat, endeavoured to get a quantity of poisoned grain to sow with his seed, but the Stock Office was uanable to supply his need. It certainly seems advisable that some steps should be taken to ensure poisoned grain being available to farmers during the sowing reason.