10 DISCUSSION ON SOME ACCOUNT OF THE MUTTON BIKDS. 



Mr. Bernard Shaw said that there was already an Act of 

 Parliament enabling the Executive to deal fully with the 

 matter. It was passed last session, and there did not appear 

 to have been sufficient time to prepare the necessary 

 regulations. Under that Act the Governor-in-Council was 

 empowered to make regulations fixing a close season for the 

 birds, preventing the introduction of cattle and sheep to 

 certain islands, the lighting of fires, and various other 

 matters to which His Lordshp had referred in his paper. He 

 considered that interference in these matters was beyond the 

 functions of the Fisheries Board. The Act to which he had 

 referred gave ample, powers to make all the regulations 

 necessary, and he hoped that before next season there would 

 be a complete set of regulations in operation. 



Mr. Alfred J. Taylor said that before Bishop Sandford 

 left the colony he brought this matter under the notice of the 

 Society, and pointed out that a valuable industry was being 

 destroyed. He had also referred to the fact that the oil of the 

 bird had been found valuable as a medicine in cases of 

 consumption. 



Mr. E. M. Johnston said that having visited these islands on 

 several occasions he could corroborate His Lordship's 

 description of the return of the birds. It was a glorious 

 sight to see the multitude of birds returning, and he was 

 glad to see that steps were being taken to see what could be 

 done to protect these birds. In regard to the destruction of 

 the birds, he thought this arose not only from the destruction 

 of the birds, but also of the mounds in which they burrowed. 



His Lordship briefly replied, expressing pleasure at the 

 fact that legislation had been initiated in the direction 

 indicated, and hoping that the necessary regulations would 

 be framed to protect what he regarded as an important 

 industry. 



