PROTECTION OF WILD LIFE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 6

PROTECTION OF WILD LIFE

State Control Plan Not Favoured VALUE OF VOLUNTARY WORK STRESSED “This means that by creating a new State department the control of wild life will pass from acclimatization societies to the Government and that the voluntary work now being done by members will became a charge on the State,” said Mr. D. J. Gibbs, chairman of the council of the Wellington Wild Life Control and Acclimatization Society yesterday. He was referring to the statement made' in Invercargill by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, that all pests, fpm rabbits to deer, should be under the control of a national wild life department which should conduct research. “Of course, licence-bold|rs will have to pay,” said Mr. Gibbs, “but there is a limit to their contributions. The balance will be required to be found by the State. The present system of licence-holders electing their own councils is most democratic, and should be adhered to, as State administration takes away from the individual the personal interest he has in the wild life of the Dominion. “The Wellington society at present spends over £2OO yearly on fish research, and £320 a year on vermin control, and in. both these activities much voluntary assistance is given. This voluntary, work would be lost if the State took over control. “The importation of Indian fowl and Argentine partridge, referred to by the Minister, would be useful and they should do well in the bush and iu the high country. The Wellington society imported Chukor some years ago, but the birds did not get acclimatized. The South Island seems to sujt them, and an endeavour is being made to obtain some for release in the Rimutakas.

“The Wellington society, in its district, controls the native bird population by ranging the bush and is the only body today that actively takes action to protect thb birds. It controls the vermin destruction and pays bounties to all those who destroy the enemies of our birds. It has its own hatchery and game farm and rears fish as well as contributing toward fish research, the movement for which was instigated by the society, ■ which contributed £4OO a year for three years to maintain a research worker at the university. “No attempt at national reforms should be made without the full consent and co-operation of all wild life control and acclimatization societies,” concluded 'Mr. Gibbs.