GAME INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 16, 13 October 1932, Page 14

GAME INTERESTS

Acclimatisation Societies’ Discussions VARIETY OF, REMITS A variety of remits was discussed at the annual conference of New Zealand acclimatisation societies.- which opened iu Wellington yesterday, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp presiding over a fully representative gathering. Remits dealing with the feathered species and fur animals were disposed of by mid-after-noon, and some remits under the Fisheries Act had also been dealt with when the conference adjourned to nine o'clock this morning. A Southland proposal to make it unlawful to keep native game in a freezing works or freezing chamber did not find enough, support to carry it. The purpose of the-remit, said Mr. E. Russell, was to prevent those who made big shoots putting the' birds away instead of getting rid of them. Against that, Mr. C. H. Lawrence, Canterbury, said some men only got one or two days’ shooting, and might wish to keep a few birds for a special occasion. The remit was defeated. Breeding Disturbed. An addition to the Animals and Game Protection Act was sought by the Waimate Society, in the clause dealing with the destruction of nests. Mr. F. Nash referred to an instance in which black swans’- nests were disturbed and over 300 eggs were spoiled. He asked that , an addition should be made to coyer cases where nests were wilfully disturbed, or permitted to be disturbed while the- birds were nesting. The conference agreed to a remit on these lines. Inspection of Vehicles. Mr. W. J. Parkin, Whangaroa, moved a remit having for its object the giving of powers to rangers to search vehicles and shooting parties for game taken illegally. Dr. G. F. V. Anson, Wellingon, seconded, adding that any additional powers given to the rangers in that matter would help. Reference was made by the president to a car which was coming into Wellington. When hailed, its driver refused to stop, but the car was followed into town. While nothing was found in the car a native pigeon was found over the fence, and the man was prosecuted and fined £lO for obstruction. However, Mr. Tripp did not think it wise to give too much power to the rangers. ' The remit was defeated. Protection on Deer. Mr. C. H. Lawrence, Canterbury, introduced the question of the total protection on deer, saying some of the districts wished to know what was the policy of the department and what. con-, trol.the societies would be given in their respective provinces. The president said deer were practically, under control in the Wellington area. Mr. Malcolm Fraser, secretary to the Department of Internal Affairs, said he could not inform them at the moment as to the policy of the department. Transfer of Opossums.

A Southland remit sought to give permission to acclimatisation societies, to remove opossums from one part of their district to another, or to procure opossums from other districts for liberation in their own districts. Mr. J. Robertson said opossums would not be placed in areas where there were ground’birds. He believed if certain areas could be devoted to opossums some thousands of pounds of revenue could be derived from them. Mr. J. W. Parkin, Auckland, seconded the remit, saying there was a lot of bush country in Auckland which was not producing anything at all. Mr, Tripp referred to the great number of vermin caught in the opossum traps, while the damage to birds was small. They did not want, to see opossums released in fruit districts. The remit was passed, and the conference also agreed that concerted action* should be taken by the societies concerned to retain jurisdiction over opossums and secure a just share of the revenue.