WILD LIFE PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 6

WILD LIFE PROBLEMS

NATIONAL AND SECTIONAL ASPECTS. Members of the executive of the Forest and Bird Protection Society believe that the Hon W. E. Parry. Minister of Internal Affairs, deserves the support of the general public in his plea that “wild life" —particularly game birds and sporting fish —need a “new deal.” They hold that there is too much haphazardness at present and that 100 much power is held by sectional interests.

It is argued that if the example of the old-time Maoris was followed in New Zealand today there would be an abundance of game birds. As the natives relied on birds for part of their diet they took proper precautions against excessive killing in an area. They regarded the living birds as capital which, under proper management, could yield dividends of food. If there was any tendency .to take too heavy a toll of capital, there was always the tapu of a chief or tohunga to check the blundering. Thus wil'd life flourished well during the old regime of the Maoris, but some of .their descendants have followed the bad example of the pakeha in poaching protected birds such as pigeons. Another aspect of wild life concerns the whole public as distinct from the section which wishes to enjoy the privilege (by licence) of shooting birds. It is mentioned that the people who find pleasure in seeing birds alive in their natural haunts must be reasonably considered by the Government.

There is an urgent need of intelligent investigation of wild-life problems as a necessary part of a truly national policy.