ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12477, 12 April 1906, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

THE SLAUGHTER OF DUCKS

The Council of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society met last -night. Dr. Moorhousa was in t'ho chair, and there was a good attendance of members. A letter "was received from Mr E. F» Cox in regard to duck shooting at Greenpark, and asking -whether the Society's nainiger could not do eomotihing to stop it. "I also hear," Mr Cox -wrote, "that tibere are seven or eight cylinders with bdttoms or cages being made in Leeston. Surely that kind of sport can be stopped. The 'pecjplo with, these things srjmip'y Tnaitch. -where the ducks rest, and go amd peg one down, sometimes in tilio middle of t!he lake, and eurround it wJth decoys, and the result is wholesale slaughter. Besides that, they wound a fearful lot which they do not get. They generally have someone in a boat, and !he keeps tihe ducks moving." Mr Cox added tliat this practice was adopted by persons who sold the ducks, iand thoro were some persons who never did anything else throughout the season.

Same diiecussion eensued, and it was finally resolved to write to the Colonial Secretary, asking him to 'take steps to have itfhe use of cylinders stopped, and ako to Dhe Canterbury members of Parliament, requesting them to use their influence to procure an amendment- of tho Aniraajs Protection! Act.

*Mr George Rhodes, of Meadowbank, was elected a life member of the Society. Tho annual reports and baJanoe-eheet to be presented to the annual meeting were read to the Council, and ordered to bo printed.

An offer of some wekas for the gardens was accepted. Attention was again drawn to the faofc that Lake Forsyth has been proclaimed a protected area for native came, under the Animals Protection Act, 1880.