Change Urged In Wildlife Control

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30826, 11 August 1965, Page 9

Change Urged In Wildlife Control

“The Press’’ Special Service

AUCKLAND, August 10. The abolition of acclimatisation societies in New Zealand and the setting up instead of a unified wildlife administration has been proposed by Mr R. M. Weston, president of the Rotorua Conservancy Fishing and Shooting Federation. In his annual report he says that the whole history of acclimatisation efforts in New Zealand abounded in bungles and blunders. While a certain measure of good had been achieved, the record of harm done was far greater. Although acclimatisation societies were only angling and sporting clubs they retained control of wildlife administration.

Mr Weston says that unless the administration is brought under unified control there is little future for the coming generation of biologists and technicians seeking to make a career in the administration of wildlife. If such a change was made the Government would have to review its policy on the field sciences to speed up the study of changing ecological conditions. New Zealand was already 40 years behind in this field and would fall still further back unless something was done, such as establishing a firstclass university biology department, he says.