ACCLIMATISATION OF FISH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION OF FISH

POSITION AT W AIM ATE AMALGAMATION OF INTERESTS NOT WANTED Some of the main objections which members of the Waimate Acclimatisation Society have towards the amalgamation of acclimatisation societies were expressed yesterday by the secretary (Mr J. C. Winning). The whole position will probably be discussed at the next meeting of the council of the society. “The conference in Christchurch last month showed there were no benefits to be derived from amalgamation,” said Mr Winning, “otherwise the Waimate society would have no hesitation in approving of the proposal. It has been suggested that Ashburton, South Canterbury and Waimate should amalgamate. A conference of this group will be held at Temuka next month to consider amalgamation. “South Canterbury considers it has sufficient territory to cover as it is,” said Mr Winning, “and it would not be economical to add to it a territory as large as Waimate, stretching 30 miles from the Pareora river to the Waitaki, and 70 miles to Hakataramea. Just now we are concerned with a lack of water in the Waihao and fish are being stranded in the shallows. It is much easier for a society on the spot to direct operations in saving such fish. Volunteers are more readily available for such work when appealed for by the local society than from headquarters, say in Timaru.” The Waimate society needed two rangers to cover its territory, continued Mr Winning, and South Canterbury would have to employ them for the same work, as their rangers were already fully occupied. The Waimate society had been looking after its territory successfully for about 50 years ana there seemed no need for a change. The society was alive to the value of research, taut considered that anglers themselves could best supply the material for investigation. The Waimate society had two major problems which could best be attended to by the present system. They were a lack of food in the Waitaki and a lack of water in the Waihao. The Waimate society would welcome amalgamation if these problems could be better met, but that was .ot evident. The society was now liberating fry into the Waihao with its plenitude of food, and then transferring the fish to the Waitaki as yearlings. BATHS WATER SCHEME AT GERALDINE BOROUGH COUNCIL FOREMAN TO SUPERVISE WORK' A decision .to allow the borough foreman (Mr G. E. Berry) to supervise the work of providing a gravitation water supply for the Geraldine domain baths, if ‘ relief labour was available, and If the Geraldine Swimming Club provided the necessary pipes and fittings to the value of £282. was mada et a meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council on Wednesday night. A deputation comprising Messrs J. D. McKechnie (president of the Geraldine Swimming Club). L, S. R. King, A. J. Burmester, and G. E. Berry waited on the council to discuss the scheme for the provision ot a pure water supply to replace the present supply through the street channels. The matter was discussed by the council in committee. TECHNICAL COLLEGE AT TIMARU PRACTICAL CLASSES DO WELL Success had attended the practical classes in engineering, plumbing, electrical wiring, acetone welding, dressmaking, and cookery, and the year 1936 might be regarded as the most successful registered in some of these departments by reason of both the keenness and the accomplishment of the individual students and their instructors, said the principal of the Timaru Technical College (Mr F. L. N. Tuck) in a review of the last year’s work to the board of managers, over whom Mr G. Benstead presided. The report said that Timaru had been one of the last towns in the Dominion to respond to the revival in building trades, and it was earnestly hoped that in 1937 the college would be in a position to develop once more the strong classes in building construction and allied subjects which obtained before the slump.

Following were the final statistics for the evening classes: —Junior free place, girls 21 (18 last year), boys 41 (31), total 62 (49); senior free place, girls 59 (62), boys 125 (110), total 184 (172); paying students, girls 35, boys 120, total 155 (126). The courses were taken as follow: Accountancy 45 (39); other commercial 147 (123); trades, 127 (104); domestic arts, 44 (45); art and general 38 (36); totals 401 (347). In 1934 the total was 285 and in 1933, 286. The totals showed progressive recovery in enrolments during the last two years from the period of the depression. It was decided that the annual breakup ceremony should take place on December 9, the principal speaker being the chairman of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr J. W. Preen).