WINGED GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 126, 1 June 1927, Page 11

WINGED GAME

PHEASANT FARM A FAILURE

IMPORTATION OF WOODCOCK

''The increase in shooting licenses, Which now, if the figures in the report are correct, total £50 more than the fishing licenses/ shows that gun sportsmen appreciate what the Wellington Acclimatisation Society has done for them," said the chairman at the annual meeting of the society last night. "While the game farm is. not proving a complete sueces in the provision of pheasants by breeding, the purchase of pheasants .outside has proved.very satisfactory.' ?'. ;. ' ' ■■■••■■ Mr. W.'G: Talbbt.spoke of the failure ofthe game farm to provide pheasants at a reasonable cost, and was of the opinion that the farm should be admitted a loser,: and a more favourable locality should be found; with a better climate. He stressed the need for more fish distribution. " "'. Mr. J. Brassell also condemned the game farm as in an' Unsuitable spot, too cold in the winter. .He would like to see Australian' stubble quail importl cd. . " "'." " '" .'-.■.' Mr. F. Dyer' agreed that birds other thaa those in the country should be imported, Buehi as would not menace farmers, but iy-ould encourage shooting in New -Zealand. had already .'• made } arrangements for the acclimatisation of woodcock,- to be trapped during the nesting season, in Greece. The; New Zealand Government had given: its permission. i Mr. S.:G/'Nathan, spoke of the trouble in acclimatising ground—nesting species in view:'of"the' stoat and'weasel pest. The society had'not been "successful in getting permitkfbr partridge from the Government. A trial lot twenty years ago had soon disappeared. ' :The chairman said ; that the.c.ouncil .of the society had 4 earnestly ;tried to : improve matters for shooters during the last few years, jbat. there was always the main difficilt]^ 'V "!ng th'e'Grovernment's consent>to the transfer of birds from one. ' district to. another. The reason given was that farmers objected, but it was strange that the most helpful people with pheasant in the Wellington district were farmers.