CATS IN CAMPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 6

CATS IN CAMPS

SOCIETY SEEKS PROHIBITION. A letter from the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, to the Forest and Bird Protection Society, indicates his desire to prevent the straying of cats from Public Works Camps to adjacent forest where they prey on native birds. He enclosed a copy of a circular which had been sent to all engineers in the camps, but in the opinion of the Society’s executive, this action does not go far enough. The circular has this passage:—“The Minister of Public Works would not like to issue instructions prohibiting absolutely the keeping of cats and dogs in all camps, thus, for example, depriving the children of their, pet dogs, but it is considered that with the earnest co-operation of all officers and workmen much can be done in the interests of our native bird and plant life —probably as much or even more than would result from the enforcement of a drastic prohibition.” The belief of the society’s executive is that such a circular leaves the position in much the same unsatisfactory state as heretofore. It is felt that it is much more important to protect the sadly-persecuted native birds than to allow children to have such unnecessary pets as cats, which are notorious carriers of germs of various deadly diseases. Therefore, the executive has adopted a resolution that the keeping of cats in the camps should be prohibited, and that the engagement of men should be subject to that condition.