Appeal to Gov. General

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 14

Appeal to Gov. General

North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society members voted at the annual meeting last evening to ask the Governor-General to suspend the society’s council members from office and place the society’s affairs in the hands of the secretary (Mr F. M. Checketts).

Voting on the motion proposing this action was 44 in favour and 36 against. Mr I. J. H. Kelly proposed the motion and it was seconded by Mr T. J. Rait.

This motion followed one proposed by Mr Kelly and seconded by Mr D. J. Hughey that the annual report and balance sheet not be accepted. This motion was carried by 39 votes to 36. The society’s president (Mr N. I. Voyce) said after the meeting that his resignation would be “in writing.” He had earlier told the meeting that he would resign, as would Mr Checketts. Mr Checkets, however, told “The Press’’ that he would not resign. The motions came at the end of a meeting marked by

sharp criticism of the society’s policy on breeding and releasing trout and salmon, and other aspects of game management policy. Distributed to members at the meeting was a statement urging the non-adoption of the annual report as a protest against “the continually deficient financing of the society’s game activities.” The statement was unsigned. It is believed that the moves at last evening’s meeting were initiated by salmon fishermen who have for some time been critical of the society’s approach to salmon

conservation and breeding. “The annual report of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society indicates that salmon fishing is the Cinderella activity,” the unsigned statement said. According to a solicitor at the meeting, the society still exists until the council is voted out of office. The final motion at the meeting last evening, proposed by Mr T. D. Anderson, a council member, and carried, was that an extraordinary meeting of the society be called to consider the implications of last night’s meeting.