FISHING AT ROTORUA

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 39, 14 August 1926, Page 9

FISHING AT ROTORUA

A QUESTION OF LICENSE FEES

TWO-CLAUSE BILL CAUSES TROUBLE.

An innocent-looking Bill of but two clauses, under the title of the fisheries Amendment Bill, caus- ■ ed quite a lengthy discussion in tho House of Representatives last evening. Eventually the Bill was read a second time. Explaining tho measure, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. R. 1\ Bollard) said that the main object of the Bill was to provide that special licenses might be issued in respect of fishing in part of the Rotorua Acclimatisation Society., Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) characterised the Bill as a most extraordinary measure, as it provided for one district to the detriment of other districts. The proposal was most unfair. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) said that the Bill would establish a very dangerous principle, as it allowed the Rotorua Acclimatisation Society to make special licenso charges. The Bill would make for class fishing. They were squeezing out the New Zealandor in order to give benefits to the wealthy tourists, who could afford to pay for their fishing, and should pay for it. Many of the tourists were not sportsmen in the true sense of the word, and were merely pot-hunters. They should not penalise their own fishermen. There were many members of acclimatisation societies who were advocating an increase in license fees, but the majority of those advocates were wealthy men, who objected to the congestion on the lakes at Taupo. If they wanted to increase the fee for fishing at Taupo they could charge an extra 2s 6d or 5s for that district only, instead of making it universal. The proposal really amounted to taxation on fishing, and he believed that the taxation should be placed on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. Most of the tourists who came to New Zealand caught their fish, photographed them, and left them to pollute the shores of the lake. They were out to make records.

"It's wonderful what a disturbance a little Bill of two clauses can cause," remarked the Postmaster-General (the Hon. W. Nosworthy). The position was that the Rotorua Society was getting none of the revenue, despite the fact that it was doing all the work.

"It's the little Bills that cause the trouble," said Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui). The Minister had not made a very full explanation of the measure, but they were used to the Minister's brevity. He would like more information about the charges it was proposed to make under the Bill. The Postmaster-General: "The same as other societies. It will be &1." Mr. M'Combs: "A pound to do somothing that he has already had tho right to do." The opinion was expressed by Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) that fishing licenses should be placed on tho same basis as shooting licenses. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) refuted the suggestion that the proposal in the Bill would favour the wealthy fisherman as against the poor man. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H.. E. Holland) said that it should be made an offence to catch fish and leave them to rot on the bank. Replying to the discussion, tho Minister said that the object of the measure was to encourage sportsmen to take out licenses at Botorua. Tourist fishermen should be encouraged to come to New Zealand. The whole question was one of securing revenue for tho Eotorua Acclimatisation Society. There was considerable poaching in tho district, and they did not have enough rangers. A divison was callod for, and Mr. Samuel was named by the Speaker as one of the tellers for the Noes. Mr. Samuel objected to acting iv this capacity, and, in accordance with the Standing Orders, he made his protest from his seat, with his head covered. Mr. Speaker: "Is the lion, gentleman ! not going to vote against the Bill?" Mr. Samuel: "No, Sir, I am going to vote for it." (Derisive laughter from the Labour benches.) ' The second reading was carried by ,45,. jofces Jfcq 10,