SEARCH OF HOMES FOR ILLEGAL TROUT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 10

SEARCH OF HOMES FOR ILLEGAL TROUT

EXTENSION OF RANGERS’ POWERS NOT FAVOURED

To extend powers of search to the home would be repugnant as it would open the way for searches after minor or technical breaches, said the Secretary of Marine (Mr W. C. Smith) in a letter received at the annual conference of South Island Acclimatisation Societies yesterday, *The letter was- in reply to a suggestion from the Grey Acclimatisation Society that the powers of rangers should be increased. There was apparently no provision under the regulations to prevent persons being in possession of trout or perch taken illegally. It was unlawful to possess salmon taken illegally. It appeared that people taking trout had to be caught in the act.

Mr Smith said that there appeared to be an anomaly in the law, but it had been noted for redrafting. The Fisheries Act did give ample powers of search of persons on their way home. Suspected persons and vehicles could be stopped and searched but right of search ended at homes, he said.

The chairman (Mr J. Robertson) said the regular ions were being reviewed and would be re-enacted next season. The Cabinet was concerned at interfering with the rights of the homes and with possibly innocent people, he added. Salmon-Selling Licences Because it was considered that commercial salmon fishing had grown to such an extent that anglers were being deprived of their sport, it was decided to ask the Marine Department to prohibit selling licences for salmon taken on rod and line. “Holders of selling licences are forming gangs and camping on the pools near the mouths of the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers,” said Mr H. B. Timmings (South Canterbury). “The ordinary anglers have no place to go.” When it was suggested that selling licences be prohibited, Mr Robertson said that salmon were introduced for food not sport. Netting licences were issued for fishing in the Waimakariri, he said.

Free access by anglers and shooters to riverbanks and lakes was suggested in a remit adopted by the council.

The director of the Wild Life Division of the Department of Internal Affairs (Major G. F. Ycrex) said that large tracts of good fishing water were excluded to fishermen in forestry areas.