ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S FINANCES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 11

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S FINANCES.

J 'CO IIEE EDITOa OF THE PSEB3 Sir, —Allow me to congratulate you on. your full report of the adjourned meeting regarding the finances of the Acclimatisation Society. The result is really disappointing, as it clearly shows that the majority at that council meeting were not fully actuated by the desire to put the finances of the Society on a satisfactory basis. There was hardly one satisfactory alternative to a wage reduction brought forward. On the score of living impressed on the rangers the necessity for economy in the running of jtlieir cars the chairman of the Hangers' Committee moved that the _ report should bo brought down in*six months' time. Any economy in this direction would only ltoean a saving of £7O in six months, and this to meet a deficit of £3OO. I am pleased to read the chairman's remarks that the staff are working at full bore, and in consequence it seems to mo that .members must bear their share cf putting the finances on a satisfactory basis. Nowhere in the world can shooting or fishing be enjoyed for so small a sum as hero. I am perfectly sure that the Finance Committee have gone into the pros and cons very thoroughly. No wonder the members resigned when their report was thrown out without any attempt to put matters right. It is closely akin to the Game Committee's deciding to breed or import quail and the Council's throwing ic out and deciding to breed ostriches, as they present a bigger target for the sportsman. The only weak link in the Finance Committee's report is this. Had they taken into account the prospect of increased sales? The member speaking on this aspect certainly is not reported to have said what nature these sales are to take. According to the report of the

amount of ora and fry for liberation in our own streams and rivers it seems as though our. sales in this direction must be down. Then can it bo sales oh game ? If that is contemplated, some pronouncement Ehould be made. Sales of game, if only of a limited extent, should be to enable the Society to provide more gamo, and uot ior administrative purposes. TJnless the Society does make a definite eirort to put the finances on a satisfactory basis, then members as a whole aie not acting as true sportsmen should. I am satisfied that the Finance Oomnuttee has acted with no aim of making cuts because they are fashionable, but really because they desire to bring aboul a satisfactory state of finances. I. am also convinced that, while their particular concern is finance, it is not their god, and that they realise that too tnuch is spent on administration. With a contracted revenue the real purpose of the Society, providing fisli and game, must suffer more, so far as sportsmen arc concerned. They have been most generous and their decision to pay the sayings into a suspense account proves this. Incidentally there was one meml»r who spoke of being against reducing the secretary's salary, as he provides a room for their meetings. Presumably tlio secretary pays a rent for this, and it may be interesting to know* if a reduction in his salary has been or could be offset by a reduction in rent under the recent legislation dealing with this aspect. Even at this late hour I hope the Finance Committee will consider the question of mom hers doing their shuro towards bearing the cost so as to make the burden as light as possible for the staff.—Yours, etc., 'HYKLVE BORE. July 'JDth. 1931\