GAME RESEARCH.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19691, 7 August 1929, Page 10

GAME RESEARCH.

A DOMINION PROPOSAL. CO-OPERATION OF SOCIETIES. That all Acclimatisation Societies in New Zealand co-operate in research work on problems affecting the wellbeing of trout in New Zealand rivers and lakes was the effect of a series of remits approved at a general meeting of members of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last night. The meeting was held to discuss remits for the conference of the Association of New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies to be held in September. The proposals are that a Central ResearcL Committee be formed to direct the research work, such committee to bo answerable to the New Zealand Association of Societies, such committee to report on the work to the Association once a year, and a copy of such report be forwarded to all affiliated societies. The committee will consist of two South Island members, two North Island members, Professor Percival, find the Chief Inspector of Fisheries. All societies will make annual cash contributions towards the work, the amount of such contribution to be proportionate to the gross annual incomes of such societies. All contributions will be payable to the Association of Societies and be expended as recommended by the Central Research Committee, the gross income of each Society not to exceed per cent. Each society that contributes £2OO or over per annum should have a research worker resident in its district, although such worker may be sent into other districts at the direction of the Central Research Committee. It was also proposed to ask Professor Percival, of the Department of Biology, Canterbury College, to act as Director of Research Workers. Each society is to appoint a small Research Sub-Committee which shall assist the work as far as possible and furnish research workers with information about its district and put forward any local problems. A research laboratory, it is suggested, will be established in such locality as the Central Research Committee shall think most suitable. Finally, it was proposed to ask the Government for a grant towards the work. Opportunity for Young Men. In moving the remits Mr D. F. Hobbs said that conditions had become such that it was almost impossible to do this work by the effort of individual societies. It was clear that all the societies in New Zealand would benefit, and it was only fair to ask all the societies to co-operate. It would be quite impossible for a large committee to carry on the work effectively. It was work more suited for a mobile committee. The scheme would allow young men at the Universities to specialise. Their average incomes would be between £2OO and £3OO a year. If there was a total income of £2OOO a year there might be five workers, whose incomes averaged £250, making a total of £1250. Travelling ezpensea might be set down at £250 and the cost of apparatus at £2OO. Five workers could be put in the field for aboui .11700 a year. If a laboratory were established Professor Percival said that many amateurs would give their services free, and Professor Percival himself would give a great deal of time to the work. Once this research work was well established they would have men eoming here to get experience, and they would have the benefit of their work without any extra pay. The remits were approved.