GAME SHOOTING

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 27 March 1936, Page 6

GAME SHOOTING

NATIONAL, POLICY SUGGESTED,

OPINIONS OF MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

When replying to a deputation representing the Associated Acclimatisation Societies of New Zealand, who asked for further financial assistance, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, expressed the opinion that there should be a national policy for the preservation of the sport of game shooting in New Zealand. He said that this branch of the sport was in a very precarious position, and unless something of a national character were done to preserve it, the sport would go by the board. There was no question about that. To a large extent the present state of affairs was due to the fact that the breeding of the birds had not kept pace with the demand. He was prepared to do everything in his power to preserve the sport of game shooting in keeping with common sense. He would have to consider what was the fair thing by the farmers, for instance. Game shooting afforded recreation to the city and country dweller, and played an important part in keeping the farmer's son on the land. The Minister believed that sportsmen should come closer together than they were to-day. They should be more of a national combination for the purpose of co-ordinating the activities of the particular sport in which they were interested. His suggestion was that a national policy should be framed and that for this purpose a national conference should be called. Points the conference might consider were: (a) The breeding and liberating of game compatible with the present demand; (b) the most effective and economical means of breeding; (c) the kind of birds most suitable to breed for New Zealand with due consideration to the farmers' interests; (d) the most effective means of the destruction of pests; (c) the tightening up of the law against shooting hens; (f) the proper organisation of rangers; (g) ways and means of financing same. Mr Parry said the only difficulties in the way were the sportsmen themselves. He wanted to see a national conference to consider the questions he had outlined, and suggested that nothing be done to overload the conference, for that would only create confusion. If it were possible to frame a national policy he could then go to the Government with representations on behalf of sportsmen in united agreement. There would then be a chance of getting something done. The reason nothing could be achieved in the past was because sportsmen were divided. He believed there would haVe to be a national policy so far as the breeding of birds was concerned. By co-ordinating the of breeding it would be possible to liberate a set number of birds compatible with the demands of a district. If that were done shooters would not be running from one district to another.

Referring to the question of pests, Mr Parry said he was in touch with the Ministers of Agriculture and Lands, who took a common-sense view of the "situation. "If I have any opportunity of declaring war on pests it will be done," said Mr Parry. "Not one single solitary word can be said in favour of pests being allowed tc continue." The pukeko was a native bird, but his own experience convinced him that the bird was doing

damage. He did not want to see the ~ bird exterminated, but when it became a menace common-sense methods had to be used to keep it in check. There was a definite need of coordination in the work of fish research. The question of salt water fish required careful consideration as part of our fish supply. They knew very little about the customs and habits of the fish in the lakes and rivers, and a fish research organisation would have to be set up. Mr Parry said he could not hold out any hope for a definite cfeer-**" stalking period. Complete freedom was wanted in the campaign to destroy them. The shooting sport J would have to be paid for by those who participated in it, but he would not say that applied to fishing, and he thought some assistance should be received from the Government for fish research, for fishing attracted visitors from far and wide.