GAME RANGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 6

GAME RANGERS

PRESENT POSITION A CHANGE WANTED For the purpose of protecting' game throughout New Zealand honorary game rangers .have been appointed from, time to time for many years until there are thousands scattered from one end of the Dominion to the other, Various persons have applied for warrants as rangers for various reasons, a member of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society stated yesterday, and the acclimatisation societies are now faced with the problem of persuading these persons to act in the capacity foi which they were appointed. A warrant to act as a ranger carries certain privileges. While these are counterbalanced by certain responsibilities, the societies do not mind, bul concern is felt where honorary rangers make use of their privileges and dc nothing in return as' far as the protection of fish and game is concerned. II is believed that many honorary rangers have simply forgotten that they were appointed to act in that capacity, while others have lost interest. ■ On the othei hand, a large number still take an active interest, in acclimatisation matters, and a small percentage use the warrant of a ranger as a shield againsi complaint when seeking good game grounds or. streams. ■ Excellent rangers: have been offended in the past by the efforts of the societies to eliminate the undesirable few, but further action is being taker to place the issue of honorary rangers warrants on a controllable basis, ,while the societies hope that those who have been doing good work will understand that their appeals for a change arelhoi aimed at the majority. They hope tc have the old order changed so thai warrants will not be issued in per petuity, but will be renewable everj three years. If that can be arranged the keen sportsmen who are at preseni doing good work will apply for the renewal of their warrants, the indifferent ones will drop out of the list, and the undesirable ones will be opposed bj the societies if they attempt to have their privileges renewed. \ A LONG LIST. At the present time about 200_honorary rangers are known to be in the Wellington district1, and it is thoughi that the number of persons grantee warrants in the district must be in the vicinity of 2000. Many of these have died or left the district, and consequently a. purging of the list, which would automatically take place if the warrants terminated every three years instead of continuing indefinitely as ai present, is very desirable. The powers of such rangers is considerable, and under the system operating at present it is possible for s person to secure a warrant for reasons that may be entirely personal and nol in any way concerned with acclimatisation matters. If the warrants were limited as to time such persons, could be frustrated, at least on the "second application. As an honorary ranger has many of the powers of a constable as far as game matters are concerned, i 1 is apparent that a land owner may be put to considerable annoyance by s person entering his property as c ranger, although acclimatisation interests may not be the actuating influence for the visit. . With the idea of bringing about a better system of ranging, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society has decided to hold a meeting at which both the honorary rangers and the society's paid rangers can discuss methods of cooperation. The suggested time limil on the currency of warrants will be explained at this meeting. COST OF COAL (From "The Post's" Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. The increased price of coal as i factor in dairy production costs was mentioned by Mr. J. E. Leeson (Mor rinsville) at the National Dairy Con ference yesterday afternoon. Mr. Leeson said that the prices o: slack and coal had been increased and he thought some representation! should be made by the executive or the matter. ' A resolution was passed expressing alarm : at the increased cost of coa: and asking the Government to assis] the dairy industry in the matter. ; Reference to the death of Mr. T>. G A. Cooper was made at a meeting o^ the council of the New Z.ealand'Lavi Society yesterday. In moving a motiori of condolence with the relatives of'the late Mi1. Cooper, Mr. A. H. Johnstor.e K.C., said that Mr. Cooper was a man who had won the affection, respect, and esteem of all who knev him. Mr. H F. O'Leary, K.C., Mr. A. H. Johnstone K.C., and Mr. H. T. Thompson represented the council of the New Zealand Law Society at the funeral. Mr. D Perry and six others represented the council of the Wellington District Law Society, and Mr. H. B. Luck represented the Hawke's Bay District Law Society. A remand to appear at Palmerston North on July 2 was granted by Mr, H. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today in the case of Ronald Keitli Henrichs, aged 25, a salesman, who is charged with obtaining- byfraud af Palmerston North credit for board and lodgings valued at £8 10s.