Talks on re-forming societies

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 2

Talks on re-forming societies

'From our Wellington reporter WELLINGTON, March 10. The scheme to reorganise the acclimatisation society movement, which was agreed to by the movement’s North Island and South Island councils late last year, may now be modified.

At a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Maclntyre), the provisional national executive of the movement has suggested modifications to the proposals for amalgamation of acclimatisation societies and for national field staff.

The Ministers agreed to consider the modifications.

Under the scheme agreed to last year, there will be no more than seven societies in each island (instead of the present 11 North Island and 10 South Island societies), and a national field staff instead of the present employment of staff by individual societies. The other proposals agreed to last year are expected to stand. These include the formation of a national execur five composed of representatives elected from the new acclimatisation districts, the Wildlife Service of the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Fisheries Management Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; a national fund formed by a levy on all game and fishing licences to provide finance for game management and fisheries improvement projects; and the introduction of game and fishing licences effective throughout the whole country.

As the societies have already agreed in principle that some form of amalgamation has merits and that the reorganisation of societies’ staff has some merit, the modifications are not expected to be very controversial.