WILD LIFE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 23, 21 October 1944, Page 6

WILD LIFE CONTROL

Plans For Research And Administration Proposals for co-ordinated research and administration of wild life control, made in a report by Dr. G. Archey, Auckland, were brought before the North Island Acclimatization Societies’ Council at its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday by the Auckland society. The proposals were not considered in detail, but were referred to individual societies, so that they may consider them and instruct their delegates as to their views. Delegates are to attend a further meeting of the council not later than February 28. The South Island council is to be asked to take similar action. The president, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, Auckland, urged the desirability of putting forward a scheme acceptable to the societies before other control was instituted. The need for scientific research Was shown by the mistakes, which had been made in the importation of game in the past. Societies, he added, were now in a financial position to embark on a scheme. Dr. Archey, iu his report, says that conservation and the research that should be an essential preliminary to the formulation of policy are the joint responsibility of all interests, including Government departments aud acclimatization societies. Acclimatization societies,. he suggests, should concentrate their investigations in the field that has been theirs all along —the relation between native and imported animals and plants. “The restricted field suggested is wide enough, aud its exploration would have to be clone in conjunction with all the other departments, co-operating, I suggest, through a national conservation board or council representative of all interests,” he says. . , , .. “The personae! required to cover the proposed field of invest igat ion would be: A. director, three research officers (a) land, game and native birds; (b) water fowl (c) mammals; clerical staff. “The director would organize and allot the problems and collate the resails in co-operation with the research officers. The North and. South Island councils would need to. join forces to make one national acclimatization socities’ authority for appointing staff and providing all requirements. No daubt the Internal Affairs Department would wish to approve the appointments and the research policy. The directors reports would be submitted to the acclimatization authority, Internal Affairs and the National Conservation Council. “A guaranteed income would be necessary Five shillings a licence has been suggested: this would produce £4OOO per annum, which would be insufficient for staff salaries and expenses. Some additional source would therefore have to be drawn on. possibly an allotment, of public funds by the National Conservation Council. ... “There is a paramount, necessity t n .scientific information, not only for the •niidanee of science, but also to gain lor them the right to pursue their activities on sound lines.”