ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17613, 16 November 1922, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

mbbxxno op council. / The Council of the North OantertjQiy Acclimatisation Society met last*©venihg. Present—Mr M. H. Godby'jjin chair), Dr. O. M. Anderson, Professor X. Q. Blunt, Professor R. Speight, and Messrs L. A. Shand, H. Anderson, I. Barker, J. Sutherland, P. J. Mo%, S: B. Qibbs, E. B. Rimmington, A. B. Smith, 0. J. Sloman, and P. Wynn Villains. ! The statement showed that the receipts during the month ended November 11th to £3B 6s 3d and the expenditure to £172 lsa 7d. The credit balance stood at £268 4s 3d. The TJnder-Secretafy for Internal Affairs wrote stating that it waa regretted that it was not possible* to comply with the Society's wishes by providing that persons who took out game licenses during the last game seaBon should be allowed to shoot godwita during the open season for those birds next year, the reason being that the licenses issued in respect of last season were for a particular period and for specified birdß only, and the warrant and licenses having expired on the termination of the open season, they could not now be made, to apply to a coming season. It was. therefore proposed to issue special regulations providing for a license to take or kill godwita at a fee of 10s during next year's open Benson. A copy Of the proposed warrant authorisihg the Society to issue such licenses" was < forwarded lsy the UnderSecretary. The letter .was received.

A circular lettdr waa received from the Departraenf of Internal Affairs stating that owing to complaints reoeived as to the damage caused or likely to be'caused to property by opossums, it had been decided not to authorise tie capture or liberation of those animals in any district at present. A circular letter was received from the Department -of Internal Affairs' dealing with depredations by deer, lie letter stated that a report was presented to Parliament last session by the Stato Forest Service relative to the deer hereby,of' the Dominion and the destination caused to property by those animals. A „finnl decision had not yet been come to as to' the action which would be taken relative to the deer herds, but it was possible, owing to the great damage caused by the animals, that protection might have to be removed, at all events in the more settled parts of the Dominion, and it might bo necessary at a later stage to hold a conference of acclimatisation societies and others interested in the mat. ter. A copy of the report would be forwarded to acclimatisation societies as soon as available, - and meanwhile it had, been decided to authorise owners or occupiers of. properly which was being damaged by deer to . destroy suoh animals found on their properties. It had also fceeen decided > to authorise siich persons to sell, or otherwise dispose of, the yenison. and skin* of all deer killed. Ik addition, it » decided that no persons J should dispose of, or retain, the head or antlers of any stag witdiout the consent of the aoclimStisation society in whose* district the deer were taken or killed. Acclimatisation ' societies would thus \be able, # they so desired, to have tags or other identification marks prepared lor issue to such persons, v A copy of an Order-in-Council making regulations With respect to the saie of deei- and also with regard to the disposal of the head or antlers of any stag was forwarded! by the Department; also a copy of the warrant which was being issued to persons authorising them to Idll or destroy deer loUncl on iu«r properties, such warrant to be for a period of twelve months from the date of issue. ■/' . > >

The letter was referred to the Deer Committee, oiie member remarking that it' would be quite a good thing.for the herds if they- were shot out and 'sent back to the ranges. • • ■■ •'..■■■ The Superintendent of Police wrote thanking the .society ifor issuing complimentary fishing lioenses to at number of members of the police force.