Comments on: How embarrassing. Didn’t we have compulsory schooling 40 years ago?

By: Angus Black

Angus Black — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 13:15:35 +0000

In reply to Wheels within wheels. Did the 'group' eat all the birds in Serbia or did they import some to Malta illegally?

By: Definite No

Definite No — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 06:06:03 +0000

In reply to Vote No. So it's his long-suffering mother-in-law he should be thanking for having more than he deserves.

By: Joe Fenech

Joe Fenech — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:44:54 +0000

Country sports? What’s that – hiking, trekking, jogging?

By: Jack Bean

Jack Bean — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:35:20 +0000

In reply to Wilson.

Before the two world wars things were likely as you described them: hunting was basically restricted to the well-off.

As the economic conditions of the island improved (during WW I Malta enjoyed a relative economic boom) rural menfolk slowly started to emulate the lifestyle of their landowners and high society of earlier times.

During WW II gun-toting and marksmanship acquired a special lure. This reached a peak in the 50s and 60s. As explained in an earlier post a number of species disappeared during this period.

Although abated, hunting and trapping/netting still continues today and is related directly to bird conservation issues. A no-vote to spring hunting will help preserve the species concerned.

By: Vote No

Vote No — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:18:05 +0000

The only reason he shows off and pretends he couldn’t care about anyone is because his wife supports him. He hasn’t done anything in years let alone build rubble walls.

By: gn

gn — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:42:35 +0000

Ghasafar qed naralu fidejh jien, mhux gebel tas-sejjieh kif qed jghid li jibni.

By: Carrie Erbag

Carrie Erbag — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:27:29 +0000

Ah, the good old ad hominem syndrome.

No chance of a logical debate with this charming gentleman; his mind is like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and already set.

By: D M Grech

D M Grech — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:59:36 +0000

I wonder when the photo was taken. Pre or post derogation / legislation? The number of birds in the photos seem to exceed the limits imposed: 4 a day, 40 for the season.

[Daphne – I understand those pictures were taken on a Maltese hunters’ trip to Serbia.]

By: Liberal

Liberal — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:54:11 +0000

In reply to Observer. The connection? It all seems straight out of Duck Dynasty.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:29:31 +0000

The big lie stands in the portrayal that hunting is a Maltese tradition. Well, it is not.

Most Maltese were not allowed to hunt, and couldn’t afford shoes let alone a gun. Hunting was only for the well-off, and those families (in most part) have long left the hunting passion to times past.

The now hunting fraternity are just simply arrivistes who would like it to be a tradition. Most Maltese couldn’t afford bread let alone the powder and shot, and where would they have got the gun.

[Daphne – You are right about shooting, but hunting also included trapping and netting, and that’s what rural peasants did. They trapped their birds.]