ACCLIMATISATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 46, 23 August 1911, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WORK OP THE YEAR. The ninth annual conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association was begun in the Chamber of Commerce to-day. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, president, occupied the chair. THE CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW. In moving formally the adoption of the report ahd balance-sheet, the chairman said he would like to make a few remarks. He was glad to say that since last meeting three societies, Tauranga, Opotiki, and Coromandel, had been affiliated, and were represented here today. This was an encouraging sign of progress. With reference to the fishing season it had been good, fair, and indifferent in various parts of the North Island and the South. It seemed a shame such a large number of fish should be Wasted, as Was done atTaupo. He suggested that the Government should take the fish ahd sell it. These I sales should be Under the supervision of the Government or of the Acclimatisation Societies. Stalking had been good m Otago and Canterbury. With regard to the Wairarapd herd, it would be found desirable to kill off a number of hinds and stage with deformed heads. Mention was made of stoats, weasels, hawks, and cats, which Were doing great harm to the game of New Zealand. The hawks were the chief offenders. In one district (Canterbury) 7000 hawks were killed in three months. Duck shooting generally had befeh very good. The time ! has come when the license should be im> posed for the shooting of hative game. (Heftrj hear.) The feeling had grown tip in the Dominion that there should ' be auch a license imposed. License ' fees would help the societies to employ ' mofe rangers, and assist in preventing' the slaughter of native game. With reference to the protection of native birds, the speaker said it was well that it should be known that there was a penalty of £20 attached to the killing and capturing pf the native birds, or of destroying their nests. Reference was made to a remit on the order paper dealing with Kapiti Island. Thie is reported elsewhere. The chairman con^ eluded by handing round a book, en» titled "Birds of the Water, Wood, and Waste," which, he eaid, should be placed in every school in New Zealand. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follow: Prestdent, Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (re-elected) j vice-president, Mr. 0 A, ritzjoy (reflected) ; emmcil, Major Hazard and Mr. . Earl (Auckland), Dr. Moorhoiiee (Can- i terbury). Messrs. G. W. M'lntoeh and ! R. Chisholm (Otago), Mr. W. G. Aspi- I nail (South Canterbury), Mr. J. A. ! Hanan (Southland), Mr. W. P. Kirk- ( wood (Stratford), Mr. W. Pollard (Marl borough), Mr. A. F. Lowe (Wellington), ■ Mr. J. E. Wilson (Ta.ranaki), Mr. F,. N. ! Liffiton (Wanganui) ; treasurer, Mr. H. H Ostler (re-elected); auditor, ■ Mr. G. B. Hull (re-elected); secretary, Mr. 0. I. Da-sent (re-elected). IMPORTATION OF GAME. Mr. C. A. Gould (Hsb&ol<j »fld Mr. W. G. Aspinall (Ashbui-ton) hio\ed— " I hat this meeting send a delegate 10 the Acclimatisation Societies' Conference with a view, amongst other things, ot getting the various acclimatisation jocietiw to work with the Government for the importation of game suitable for the various acclimatisation districts-." The mover said he moved this motion because it had been impossible to get suitable supplies of gam© for hie district. The formation of a co-opeTative hatchery was needed, and the Assistance of the Government wa-s sought in this matter. Mr. Aspinall told how he had endeavoured to import ntuobto quail from Australia, and aiter preliminaries had been arranged the Auckland district had vetoed it. | The motion, Jt was explained, i primarily referred to the importation 6f . game. The chairman said that pheasants J could bo bred at Paraparaumu if the societies wanted them. The Welling- , ton_ society could supply birds if given notice m time. He deprecated going too much to the Government. Mr. Aspihall pointed out that not only pheasants were Wanted, but other birds. It was advocated by Mr. Kirkwood (Stratford) that each society should breed | its own birds. In support of this, Mr. ' H. Southey (Tfturanga) said he could j import birds much cheaper and with more satisfaction on his own. Each society should act on its own initiative. The motion was lost. ' RANGERS. Mr. E. N. Liffiton (Wang&nui) moved and Mr. W. Polla,rd (Maribowrarii) seconded— " That the law be altered co *m to have the following effect!. That rangers appointed by a society for its district should havo legal standing in surrounding districts, subject to the direction of tho societies o£ those districts," The motion met with the general support of the meeting, and was declared carried on the Voices. HAWKS AND SHAGS. It was moved by Mr. ,1. E. Wilson (Tftranftki) r -"That united action throughout New Zealand be tak&n for the destruction of hawks and shage."' _ In a general diEciu&ion on the imbject, it was- pointed out by Mr. P. J. O'Regan (representing Buller) that it was absurd to work themselves into a heat over the ravages of the common or garden hawks a-nd shags, while the greatest curse to game Were the stoa,ts and weasels. The speaker was the only ! di4?ftc-ntient against paseihg the motion. GUN LICENSES. " That gun licences be made compulsory with regard to a man shooting off ws own property."— Thto was- moved by! Mr. Wilson (Tai-anaki). Mr. Aepinall (South Canterbury) moved ! that a, remit from his district—" That | a grni tax should be impoes-d "— ■ should be Added to the remit from Taranaki. j In© speaker referred to the indiscriminate shooting, especially by small boys. Eventually the Taranaki remit was withdrawn. Mr. W. PolWd (Mariboroiigh) expressed himself a« opposed to the motion. Mention was made by Mr. O'Regan of the hardships that would be inflicted on, «ay, young fellows in Wellington, who hunted a-nd shot on the Makara hills. It would further restrict the few pleasures some of their fellow-citizens now possessed. Mr. F. T. fc. Walker (Waiteki a.nd Waimate) declared it was absurd that while the Government requited the young men of the country lo take up arms for the protection of their country, aft attempt Bhould be made to tax them for learning' to handle firearms. Th^ meeting dwided n-gaitwt the motion. HARES. Mr. T. A. Hanan (Southland) moved— "That the Animals' Protection Act bo so amended sa to give the Governor in Council power to issue regulations whereby the fee for taking hafei» may be fixed to suit tho various acclimatisation district*." The motion was carried, 1 " (Sitting^ ,