ACCLIMATISATION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1927, Page 16

ACCLIMATISATION

ROTORUA AND TAUPO

COMBINED LICENSE SOUGHT

Dissatisfaction with the Eotorua and Taupo nshing regulations was expressed at the meeting of the Wellington Accliaatisatiqn Society last night (Mr. G. W Macintosh presiding), when the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club wrote urging a combined license of £1 10s for both Rotorua and Taupo fishing, and the abolishing o£ the .regulations prohibiting fishing between 9 p.m. and i a.m.

- -Smce'-the Government purchased the fishing rights over Lake Taupo," said the letter, "the license fees have greatly increased. This increase in charge has materially affected the purchase of licenses by New Zealand sportsmen who are not in a position to pay them, in addition to the fact that even with the increasing fee, the amount of sport received is only the same as that when the licenses were at a lower rate. The charges made for camp sites made fishing altogether prohibitive."

Mr. W. G, Talbot thought the principle ot a combined license should be supported.

Mr. S. G. Nathan agreed. It was unlikely that the 30s combined license would ever be secured, but the principle 4of one charge and one set of rules covering both places should obtain. Other members spoke of the difficulty of ascertaining what the regulations were and what were the boundaries outside ■Jl !£ m PlnS fees were to be paid. Mr. Wiifen said that in former years there vras not the privilege of free" fishing. Ihere were comparatively heavy charges by residents to face, including 30s a day for accommodation. Now there was free fishing and camp sites were available at 10s a week. ■

It was suggested that Taupo' and Eotorua residents should not be granted special privileges, owing to the cost to anglers from other parts of New Zealand in reaching the district. It was decided to support the principle of a combined license for both Taupo and Kotorua, but in view of absence of knowledge for the proposed abolition of ni»lit nshing, it was resolved to make no recommendation.

Mr. Wiffen said that the whole of the Act. in question was under review by the Government, and it would be better to lay the society's ideals regarding Xaupo before it, which it was decided to do. _ A request from three Wairarapa residents that the application of the Wairarapa JMectnc Power Board for the upper dam on the Kourarau Stream and the property 'to. be acquired' by the board in connection therewith to be made a sanctuary for game be nof granted, was discussed, and it was decided not to declare tne spot a sanctuary. deputation from the Palmerston Worth sub-committee waited on the society and again asked it to assist in the installation of a fish pond for the raisinu of yearlings. Mr. E. B. Lloyd urged the value of the distribution of the yeardings which would be produced as a means of keeping rivers stocked. Mr. P. Black explained the financial position. The Wellington Society was asked to subscribe £75 and £158, the latter sum to be subsidised'by the Government. The object, Q f the- separate £75 was that it might be spent on the material needed and as the whole of the £150 would be expended in labour; it would be subsidised £1 for £1 by the Government. It was stated by members of the deputation that the society would be at no expense for maintenance of the pond, and that practically a permanent possession of the ground was guaranteed by the Palmerston North Borough Council. Mr. Nathan moved and Mr. G. Tripa seconded, that £225 be granted the Palmerston sub-committee towards the installation of the pond provided the remainder ot the money were forthcoming. Mr. Fleming said that the idea was to get the Government subsidy -for unemployment works, which were supposed to be works of public urgency. In his opinion this was not such a work. ■ Mr. Wiffen said that Palmerstou North wanted something for nothing. How much was the Palmerston North Borough which would derive a beauty spot from it, paying' towards the pond? Nothing! The Wellington society was asked practically to stock the Palmerston North streams free of cost to that district. It was- proposed to provide 14,000 yearlings there annually. As it was only possible to carry 75 yearlings in a can at once, the transport difficulties would easily be seen ; Was the Wellington society justified in going to this expense when it had already decided to concentrate on the provision of fry and a small number of yearling's at Masterton for the whole district, including Palmerston, in his mind the better proposition.

Mr. R. Kennedy moved.as an amendment that the matter be held over for further consideration, by the Fish Committee, which was seconded by Mr Wiffen.

Mr. -F. Dwyer supported Mr. Wiffen in regard to the expense of rearing and liberating yearlings. . Mr. Talbot also agreed with Mr. Wiffen in regard to the expense of raising such quantities of yearlings, and their distribution. He was further of opinion that the society should not assist financially unless it had full control of the yearlings Mr. Lloyd said that the distribution would be properly attended to. Both the amendment and the motion were lost.