RESIGNATION OF CURATOR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21866, 20 August 1936, Page 7

RESIGNATION OF CURATOR

GREENPARK GAME FARM AND HATCHERY ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY DISCUSSION Problems arising from the. resignation of the curator of its hatchery and game farm at Greenpark (Mr J. Digby) were discussed at a special meeting of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last evening. It was decided after considerable discussion not to call for applications for the position, but that the present assistant (Mr I. McNab) should be temporarily in charge when Mr Digby left. Mr G. L. Pomfret-Dodd presided. The meeting was called to consider Mr Dighy’s resignation. Mr C. H. Stonyer formally moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. Mr C. R. Russell moved as an amendment that the resignation be accepted, and that Mr Digby be given a month’s leave of absence on full pay as a mark of appreciation of his very fine service to the society. This amendment was supported by Mr T. Bain, who said that merely to accept the resignation would be a perfunctory method of parting with an old and valued servant. The amendment was defeated, only seven members voting for it. When the original motion was put it was carried, and Messrs Russell, A. W. Parrott, J. Murphy, Bain, and I. Gray asked that their dissent be recorded. Question of Appointment The chairman said that before Mr Digby actually left, the stocktaking asked for some weeks ago should be completed and checked. Mr N. McGillivray asked whether the assistant at the game farm and hatchery (Mr I. McNab) could carry on in the meantime. Mr Bain: I have no fear whatever but that he could do so. A motion from Mr Bain, that the curator’s resignation take effect from August 22, provided the stocktaking was satisfactorily completed, was carried. Mr G. Ebert moved that the executive committee be empowered to call for applications for the position of curator and gamekeeper. Mr L. B. Hart, asked why it was necessary to call rpr applications when it was stated thset. the assistant was competent for the work. He had been here four years, and should have learned something. An amendment that no applications be called for, and that the assistant be given a trial, with the former curator (Mr D. Hope) called in if necessary, was rejected by Mr Pomfret-Dodd as being a direct negative. After several members had mentioned that in the present state of uncertainty about what the society was going to do, particularly as it might not be breeding pheasants, Mr W. C. Milta: moved as an amendment that Mr Ebert’s motion be held over for two"or tl.ree months. Mr Pomfret-Dodd; That is a direct negative. I have already ruled against it. T Mr Miller: Only two months ago I remember you accepted an amendment to hold over a motion. You can’t blow hot and cold. Mr Pomfret-Dodd: ‘ I don’t intend to blow hot ..iid cold. Several members remarked that Mr Miller’s remedy was to vote against the motion. The motion was then put, and was lost, only four members voting for it. Stocktaking Arranged A motion from Mr Hart that Mr McNab be authorised to carry on temporarily, and that if necessary Mr Hope should be called in for anything needed, was carried. This concluded the business of the special meeting, and the genaral meeting followed. The game committee recommended that for the stocktaking the chairman of the game and the hatchery committees, together with the president and secretary should officiate. Mr Gray said that there had already been a stocktaking of game. Mr Digby, however, wanted a complete stocktaking of the hatchery with one member of the council present. The recommendation was adopted. The chairman said that the society had to consider a gift last year of pheasants by Mr R. Conn, a former member of the council. The birds had come from England and it was stated to be a condition that they were to be the property of the .ociety so long as Mr Digby was in its service. The freight from England on the pheasants—amoutning to £30 —had been paid to Mr Conn by Mr Digby. said Mr Gray. Mr Digby was quite agreeable to the society having them if it would reimburse him for this amount. The Government wanted the birds. Mr Pomfret-Dodd; If 1 remember rightly, the condition was never agreed to. The binds remain the property of the society if they, were accepted unconditionally. The minutes will clear up the position. The secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey) read the minu : referring to the gift, and in it the proviso was stated. A recent letter from Mr Conn stated that the birds, which had been obtained with the help of Lord Jellicoe, were “too valuable for anyone to play with.” and should go with Mr Digby. Mr Pomfret-Dodd; The society’s letter of acceptance mentions no condition. * In view of the precarious state of the society’s pheasant breeding and the fact that the Government had a use for them, the birds would be of more use in the North Island with Mr Digby, said Mr Hart. If the society wanted birds later, it could get them from the Government in 18 months’ time, said Mr Gray. It was agreed that no motion was needed on this matter.