ACCLIMATISATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1911, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION.

.. — -~. ■> ■■. A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. • _ » A deputation waited on the Hon, B. M'Kenzio last evening to place before him the resolutions adopted" by the Acclimatisation Societies' Conference. Mr. h. O. H. Tripp briefly recounted the principal resolutions, which have already been reported in The Post. In reply, the Minister said that hewas pleased to note that the remits of the conference were of special value. Tho request for giving rangers fof one district authority over an adjoining district couM meet with no objection. It had already been done in Otago and Southland. A« to fees for taking hares, in districts where they were not protected they were looked upon as vermin. Tho suggestion that a license for native gams at 10s should be issued did not meet with his approval. • The shooting this year was really good on the average, and h© did not think it weald be proper to impose a fresh licenss fee. The issue of deer and game licenses by each Acclimatisation ' Society would be undesirable, btit he would consider it. Several other resolutions he also promised to consider, and endorsed the suggestion to have mai-mais for duck shooting at least 150 yards apart. It would be useless ito take all the land at- Ka*iti for a bird sanctuary. The cost would bo. very great, and if the land was unoccupied it would coon become covered with The Govern' ment was negotiating for the purchase of .over 400 acres in the middle of the island to put the present sanctuary in proper order. The sanctuary was not all it should be— it was not fulfilling ita purpose, but it was hoped to put it in order. More trees that would provide bird food were required. Of course improvements all meant money^ but he was satisfied improvements of value to students of nature and tho bird life on the wland could be made. He believed that Parliament, if appealed to, would grant th« necessary funds. In regard to .the issue of licenses, where the number is restricted, he' thought the issue should be by ballot. That would giv© all applicants a chance. He justified the date of the deer shooting season in Otago, and stated that he did not favour differential licenses ac between visitors and residents of New Zealand, but 'his objection would be largely removed if the higher license for the visitor gave him the' right' to shoot and fish over the whole of the Dominion. The matter was well worth discussion. Se promised to have the Animals' Protection and fisheries ' Act with amendments reprinted and issued in pamphlet form.