ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27149, 19 September 1953, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES

ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNCIL REDUCTION SOUGHT IN AMMUNITION PRICES An investigation of the possibility of reducing the price of sporting ammu-' nition’ by the remission or reduction of sales tax “to encourage sport, and to encourage youth to get out into the country to shoot game” will be made by the Council of South Island Acclimatisation Societies. This was decided by the annual meeting of th* council yesterday, when it adopted a remit put forward by the Nelson Acclimatisation Society. The Nelson society claimed that present prices of ammunition (standard 12 bore, 16s 6d; standard heavy. 16s 9d; long range, 18s 3d) represented an increase of 32 per cent, on the price three years ago. The society said that the sales tax was applied to the wholesaler’s price and not to the manufacturer’s price. It was considered that sales tax should be remitted or a lower rate of sales tax be imposed on the manufacturer’s price. The issue of joint game licences for fathers and sons will be sought by the council. A remit from the North Canterbury society said that the issue of such licences, at a slight reduction in cost, would enable a father to inculcate in his son the “proper methods of the use of firearms and encourage a proper approach to the sport.” The son's age would have to be between 16 and 18, and societies would have to watch to see that no licences were issued to boys under 16, so that there would be no breach of the Police Offences Act. The appointment of an advisory officer from the Fresh Fisheries Laboratory for the South Island will be supported by the council. The officer’s work would include the study of river conditions for trout stocks and food. It was felt, that with such an officer, familiar with river conditions, constantly moving about the South Island, societies could be helped to solve many of their problems and develop and improve many areas. The Waitaki society moved that one game licence, for both native nad imported game, be issued at a cost of 30s. This would mean that South Canterbury, Waimate and Waitaki would cease to issue licences for native game only. The remit was passed. Application Refused

An application by the Otago society to the Marine Department to amend the regulations to allow the closing of river mouths for netting and trawling was refused in a letter received from the department. A balance of £4293 was shown in the balance-sheet adopted by the council. It was decided to make a short in

ivestment of surplus funds. The Marlborough-Nelson joint rang ing scheme was granted £3OO -a yeai for three years for ranging work. The money will come from the council's pool funds.

An invitation to societies to nominate their officers to training course for rangers organised by the Wildlife Division of the Department of Internal Affairs next February was extended to the council by the controller of the division (Mr G. F. Yerex). The course, which will last for 10 days, will be held at Taurangi camp, near the southern end of Lake Taupo.