CLOSING OF LAGOON TO SPORTSMEN

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 10

CLOSING OF LAGOON TO SPORTSMEN

Deputation to Minister Dominion Speciai Service Napier, April 16. The Minister of Internal Affairs. Hon. W. E. Parry, last evening met a deputation representing working men who could not afford to go far from Napier for their winter shooting. The recent decision of the Public Works Department to close 7500 acres of Ahuriri Lagoon to sportsmen was the subject of discussion, and the Minister said this morning that he had to toil the deputation that he had no say in the matter at all. The Minister was asked whether he could persuade the Public Works .Department io allow duck and swan shooting on the lagoon on Saturdays and Sundays, on which days there would be no danger of any workmen being shot, because uo work was done. “I told the deputation that the Public Works Department could make what stipulations it liked, as Ahuriri Lagoon was solely under its control while this drainage work is being carried out.” said the Minister, “Therefore I ad vised the deputation to bring the matter before the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society, seeing that that society issues the licences to shoot."

A member of the deputation, Mr. D. B. Mcßae, said to-day that the Acclimatisation Society was to be approached to-morrow. “There are numbers of workers who are keen sportsmen, but unless they can get their shooting near home their limited financial resources prevent Hiem from indulging in ■ heir sport,” said Mr. Mcßiie.