THE SHOOTING SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 64, 15 March 1916, Page 8

THE SHOOTING SEASON.

I • TWO MONTHS FOB NATIVE GAME. BUT PIGEOXS TO BE PROTECTED. The decision by the Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at its February meeting to request the Minister for Internal Affairs to declare a ctose reason this year for the shooting of native game was rescinded at the March meeting, held last night, j The Council's previous decision had resulted in-potitiou3-lronr-,SB Auckland.! sportsmen, from the Waiuku Rod and, dun Club (4S). and from Thames, Ham-1 ilton, Helensvillc, and other quarters, all requesting the Council to reconsider its decision on the ground tbat native game this year was particularly plentiful. The- Thames people further pointed out that by the closer.settlement on the Hauraki the duck would disappear, close season or no close sea son, and that the sportsmen should be permitted to get tiic game there while it lasted: also, that"the pigeons, which were now plentiful, but were boif.d to be killed off erith the felling of the bush,, should be made fair .game now for the same reason. They suggested that some portions of the district, such as the Waikato Lake, should be protected, if the Council thought that advisable. Writing in comment concerning the Thames petition, the Hon. C \V. Russell (Minister ior Internal Affairs) requested the Auckland Society's mind on the matter, but added that he had fully determined to declare a close season over the whole Dominion for 'pigeons and paradise duck. He would like the Council to nominate the native game that should be shot should they decide in favour of an open season. In accordance with notice previously given Mr. J. A. Gillctt moved that the former motion requesting the Minister to declare a close season for native game and an open season for imported game be rescinded. He and the seconder of the motion, LieUt.-Colonel W. H. Hazard, stated that the Council had got a very clear indication of the mind oi the sportsmen and of the country clubs on- the subject, and, in view of the policy of the Council to make the society not merely a town club, but one that gave full weight to the interests of country as well as town sportsmen, it was pro per for them to petition for an oper season as requested by the countrj members. Mr. H. H. Ostler said lie felt stronglj that the Council was making a mistake in giving way to the clamour of the cliibs on this matter. That was his fepling. but he had been •wavered in hi: opinion by representation that then were twenty country members of tin Council who would come to town ani reverse the decision for a close season if -necessary, and it appeared to bin unfair to oppose it and cause the mem bers unnecessary expense when that wa. the feelin? of the majority. Yet lv still felt that a mistake wa3 being made particularly as this time, when so man , sportsmen were out of Xew Zealand presented the opportunity for a clos season. Messrs. Chatfleld and Brigham gave i as their personal experience respectivel; of the Waikato and the Waikare am 'Whangapc lakes that the birds were be coining yearly more scarce. They wer of opinion that the preservation of th game should be the Council's first eon sidcration, before the claims of th sportsmen, and for that reason oppose the motion. The motion to rescind the previou resolution was carried. Mr. Gillett then moved: "That th season be open for three months a usual for native and imported game." Mr. Xoakes moved, as an amendment "That the shooting season for nativ game this year be for the months c May and June, and for imported gam the months of May. June, and July." Mr. Gillett withdrew' his motion i: favour of the amendment, which >wa carried, a further amendment by Mi Grnyson, "That the season be for tw months all round," not finding seconder. The meeting fixed the native game t be included as follows—Teal' duel spoonbill duck, grey duck, pukeko, an black swans. A petition to this clfec ;iyj]l ..be immediately, dispatched to th ''Minister.