Acclimatisation Society Statement “Unworthy”

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31448, 15 August 1967, Page 20

Acclimatisation Society Statement “Unworthy”

A deliberate and unworthy attempt to discredit the New Zealand Fish and Wildlife Investigation Movement had been nude by a member of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, said the president of the movement (Mr D. J. Hughey) in a statement to “The Press” yesterday. Mr Hughey said: “The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society must have obtained distorted reports of the seminar held on July 28 by the movement”

A report on the seminar was given to a meeting of the council of the society, and was reported in “The Press” on August 10. “The sole aim of the New Zealand Fish and Wildlife Investigation Movement is to obtain an independent inquiry into all aspects of fish and wildlife control and it is incredible that the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has formally resolved to oppose the aim of demanding an inquiry,” said Mr Hughey in his statement “Mr Chidgey’s reported statement that the movement openly proposed taking over acclimatisation societies is not supported by the minutes of the seminar and is a deliberate and unworthy attempt to discredit the movement

“On no occasion has the movement met with the

avowed object of undermining public confidence in the society as stated by its president, Mr F. J. Gorton. “A transcript of the seminar is held by Messrs Smithson, Cleland, Fountain and Gilroy, Solicitors, 82 Hereford street and is available for inspection by any interested individual or body. “The New Zealand Fish and Wildlife Investigation Movement challenges the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society to substantiate the reports from its last, meeting and—- “( 1) To prove that the movement has any aim other than obtaining an inquiry; “(2) To prove that the movement is attacking the whole acclimatisation society movement in the South Island; “(3) To prove that the movement is pressing for State control; “(4) To prove that the movement meets with the avowed object of undermining public confidence in the society; “(5) To prove that there has been any previous public opposition to the aims of the movement.” Mr Hughey stated there had been an attempt to discredit the New Zealand Fish and Wildlife Investigation Movement by ' the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society and he wished to emphasise

that the only aim of the movement was to obtain an impartial inquiry into all aspects of fish and wildlife control. The movement would not make representations to the inquiry.