TOURISTS AND FISHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 222, 18 September 1924, Page 8

TOURISTS AND FISHING.

ACCLIMATISATION I MEETING. EXPERT ADVICE WANTED. <Ev Telegraph.—Press Association.) f WELLINGTON, Wednesday, j Delegates from all parts of New Zeai land are attending the fifteenth annual : conference of the New Zealand Acclima- . tisation Societies' Association to-day. The r president, Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp said he • did not think the public realised the . work the societies were doing. It was ; of national importance. They had gup- ; plied clean healthy sport for people,, and had attracted overseas visitors. One of ! the main questions they had to deal with , ■ was how to keep up the standard of fish- • I ing, and that was really a matter of ( j keeping up the food supply of fish. He . thought the time had arrived when the , Government should appoint a scientist who had made a special study of that ; question, and the societies might con- ' tribute something towards his salary. ' The expert should be given an opportunity of studying our rivers and be in ' a position to advise visitors from overseas where to obtain the best fishing. Since the 1920 conference the Animals Protection Act had been consolidated, and they were now looking to see the ' Fisheries Acts consolidated and amended. Mr. Seed said it was possible that the ' Forestry League would be. putting pro- ; posals before the Government that a ■ commission should be set up to consider , amalgamation of the controlling bodies of wild life of New Zealand. Mr. Dargaville said he fully endorsed the president's remarks about the appointment of an official to advise ' tourists; Mr. Stead expressed gratification at the increase of native birds, and expressed the opinion that the rat was the greatest enemy of birds. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr. L. O. H. Trinn (Welling-ton);'vice-president, Mr. C. A. Whitney (Auckland); council, Messrs. H. H. Ostler (Auckland), H. Godby and E. F. Stead (North Canterbury), F. T. Dargaville (Hobson), L. B. James (South Canterbury), J. Gilkinson (Southland), C. P. Butterworth (Otago), B. C. Bennett J (Hawera), G. Mclntosh (Tauranga), V. Duigan (Wanganui), A. F. Lowe (Wellington); treasurer, Mr; J. F. Dyer; auditor, Mr. W. S. Wheeler; secretary, Mr. C. I. Dasent. Remits were carried that the Government -be urged to "provide for fish ladders in the construction of the Arapuni dam; that it enforce the registration of all. nets used for taking indigenous fish in estuaries; take steps to prevent pollution of all rivers; bring in a measure dealing with the deposit of refuse; in rivers and-streams; and increase the minimum;, fine for pollution of streams'-'.to £10/- -■'■ .•- Among; other Remits carried were the following: — "That-the regulations under,which a property-owner may appoint- a nominee to shoot on hie own property without a license- be amended to provide that no property-owner shall be entitled to shoot without a license, but -that any property-owner who does nqt\deeire to shoot shall be entitled to obtain a free permit for any one nominee." , "That the penalties "for shooting game out of season should Be.; increased, the minimum to be not less than £5, with 10/ additional for each head of game taken." "That restrictions on the shooting of pukeko be removed, societies to be given the power to decide whether pukeko shall be shot, and where and forfcrwhac period." the Government be asked to ren&ove the protection on ferrets, stoats,arid weasels, except in rabbit-infested districts, and that in the event of protection being removed societies pay a royaly of 6d per tail for the destruction of these animals." ■