NATURE—AND MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20280, 24 August 1937, Page 10

NATURE—AND MAN.

LIVE-BIRD SHOOTING MATCHES. A MINISTER MISUNDERSTOOD. (By Leo Fanning). Newspaper clippings received by the Forest and Bird Protection Society from some districts show that the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, is being commended by some commentators and condemned by olhers on a report which did not, convey his real attitude to trap-shooting matches promoted by gun clubs. The Minister has been made to appear as a sportsman who could see good points in the shooting of live pigeons released from traps—a practice which is as contrary to real sport as good clean amateur boxing is to professional heavyweight pugilism, which can degenerate into savagery. Any such nolion about, Mr Parry is* absurd. His statements have indicated his belief that clay pigeons can well take the place of live birds to lest the ammunition and skill of shootists. It is well-known that Mr Parry is a sportsman who goes out, with a gun In season—a real sportsman, true to the best traditions of sport, as distinct from blood-lust and pot-hunting. A friend of his told me that he would rather walk all day for one sporting shot than have a pot at an easy target. Well, that is not the kind of sportsman that threatens ihe extinction of game-birds. As half-fame pigeons are not game-birds, Mr Parry is not one to condone the slaughter of them. In his code, “it’s not done.” A Ghastly “Sport.” One of my most unpleasant tasks as a journalist was Ihe reporting of a pigeon-shooting match for a Christchurch paper many years ago. The scene, of slaughter—a few miles from the city—lives as vividly in memory as if it had been staged yesterday. The victims fluttering from 'the traps —lhe well-armed shootists eager to deal death—bookmakers taking bets on the kills—men wringing the necks of wounded birds—pot-hunters on the outskirts fTring at pigeons which competitors had missed. Poor fugitives! They had escaped Ihe blast, of two barrels and had a right lo liberty, but there was no pity in Ihe hardened hearts of Ihe mean lurking slayers. A woman was busy with the bookmakers. I can see her si ill—a lug, beefy person. who seemed to he chewing to-

bacco. Evidently, she had been to plenty of these inhuman meetings, for the agonies of wounded birds and the neck-wringings d : d not give her a qualm. Civilisation! Yes? No? Except that bookmakers now do their' part more cunningly, the pigeon-kill- j ing “sport,” is much the same to-day ; as it was long ago. Its advocates I say it. helps to “build character.” j What kind of “character”? Pleaders For Stoats. South Island Babbit Boards arc urging that Ihe Department, of Inter-; nnl Affairs should restore the protec- ! tion of stoats, weasels, ferrets and stray cats. These vermin are among the worst enemies of native birds as well as of acclimatised game-birds, j Those horrible animals have always : shown a preference for birds. When they were protected they did not prove ; to i>o on effective check on rabbits—; which must be controlled by wellplanned campaigns—but they took heavy toll of birds, particularly during the nesting season. The introduction of those alien pests was one of Ihe worst blunders of acclimatisation, which has many sins lo its discredit. The Minister will have ihe support of ihe general public in declining lo agree to the plea of the Rabbit Boards.|