WILD LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1940, Page 3

WILD LIFE

FOREST AND BIRD SOCIETY’S POLICY HON. W. E. PARRY’S VIEWS. SPECIAL STATE DEPARTMENT NECESSARY. Wholehearted support, official and personal, is being given by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to the work of the Forest and Bird Protection Society in its efforts to enlist the practical sympathy of th*, people in the preservation of the native birds of the Dominion. In addressing the recent annual meeting of the society, Mr. Parry heartily congratulated the society on its work, which he characterised as being of groat value to the country and meriting the assistance of every New Zealander. The Minister also outlined some proposals he had under consideration, the principal of which was the setting-up of a special Stale Department for tire care and preservation of all forms ol wild life of the Dominion.

■■] think this is the first time 1 have attended a meeting of the society.” stated Mr. Barry at the outset of his remarks, “and I am happy to join with members in discussing matters that are of so much importance to the present and future generations of the Dominion. Your organisaton is absorbed in bird pre,lection —a very worthy work it is, and one in which I am deeply interested. Il may be asked of me, •Why are you interested in the preservation of bird life, seeing that you are a keen sportsman with the gun — a shooter of birds?’ It is true that I appear before the society in a somewhat dual capacity, but in a position not different from that of the people who refuse to eat moat because the obtaining of that meat has involved the destruction of life. Let me say. in parenthesis, that those of the community who refuse to eat animal food because of animal killing have no objection to placing their feet into a skin of an animal or their bodies into a wrap made from the fur of an animal. But. gentlemen, we have to live, and this world lives upon life, and since life lives upon life of some kind, my role is quite consistent with life itself. My shooting is confined to birds and animals that primarily are used for food." The Minister said that the preservation of the native bird life of this country presented huge and intricate problems. The birds were becoming less and loss as the days went by. and he felt that it was up to the people of today who, for the time being, were trustees for those who should come after them, to sec that the torch of wild life preservation was kept burning as brightly as possible. "We are all try-

Ing," Mr. Parry continued "to make a contribution toward this work, but 1 feel that what is being done is not sufficient for the requirements of today. Pho natural conditions of New Zealand favouring wild life, as they were known 10 or 100 years ago, no longer exist today. Forests have been felled, swamps drained, access roads constructed, transport has been quickened, and today there are more and better shooters armed with better fowling weapons and better munition. In addition the birds have to contend with the ferret .he weasel and the stoat, which were imported long ago to exterminate the •abbit and which wily little animals nave become the most deadly enemies ;f bird lite of all kinds. Then there is .he hedgehog, which is another deadly enemy of bird life which lays its eggs and roosts upon the ground. Last, but not least, of these enemies is the magpie, which is playing havoc among all young bird life irrespective of the species. If the present form of cut organisation were sufficient to cope with the problem presented there would be no need for the alarm which exists today. The fact of the matter is lha' our organisation is not sufficient, tc solve the problem, and the time has arrived for a change. The results of our practical experience in this worts nave been exhausted. I am strongly ol the opinion that a special department similar to that of the Tourist and Publicity Department,- should be established to control the wild life of the country. That department, having at it; - head a trained commissioner, should embrace a biological section and a practical section, with representation from >both islands, working togetljei with interested men acting as wardens in different parts of the Dominion. Continual research on scientific lines must be now our objective. We must have, too. well equipped rangers to deal scientifically and practically with (he pests. It is my considered opinion that: there is no other way to meet the situation I have indicated which gives us all concern. I feel confident that a scheme based upon the proposals outlined merits the approval not only ol the major portion of the sportsmen ot the country and members of this society, but also of everybody who has an interest in and love for the preservation and conservation of the wild life of the Dominion."