HONORARY RANGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 15

HONORARY RANGERS

TEEM OF OFFICE

DUTIES AND LIMITS

With the idea of establishing more regular contacts between the honorary rangers of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society and its executive, a meeting of honorary rangers in the Wellington district was held last night, members of the society's executive, who are all honorary rangers, also attending. Dr. G. F. V. Anson, chairman of the council, presided. The meeting had been called, said the chairman/ at the instigation of Mr. L. A. Caldwell, who was of the opinion that there was a lot to be desired in the ranging of the district. That was casting no aspersions on the paid rangers, as the district was a large one, and two rangers could not cover it as licence holders would wish. Mr. Caldwell considered that as there were so many honorary rangers in the district it was necessary for them to meet the council, and this would lead to further co-operation. Everyone would agree that more ranging was needed in the district. POACHER NO SPORT. Most people who poacned considered it rather a sporting thing to do, continued the speaker. This attitude no doubt to a certain extent followed the English outlook, but in a tfoung country like New Zealand conditions were very different. In England fish and game belonged to private individuals, very largely moneyed men who devoted a large part of their income to sport. Here the fish and game were supplied by the non-moneyed man, and the sport was available to all for a very small sum. Until the idea could be instilled that poaching was as much a crime as common theft, the right outlook would not be reached. It was the wholesale poacher, the dynamiter who killed all fish and feed in a pool, that the society was after. Many honorary rangers did not know their duties or their limitations. Perhaps the society had not taken sufficient interest in its honorary rangers. There were many things which honorary rangers, could do besides the apprehension of poachers, however. They could keep in touch with the paid rangers. There were many times when an honorary ranger in business did not wish to antagonise the people of a district, but it was easy for such a man to give information' to the paid rangers, who could cause the unwelcome activities to cease. There was also "-the fact that the societies did not exist for sport alone, but had at heart the welfare of forests and birds, and it was largely through their activities in these directions that they would secure public sympathy. HONORARY RANGERS' HELP. Valuable information could be given by honorary rangers. Reports could be furnished regarding game observed, fish taken, stocking of rivers, depredations of eels and shags, what numbers of pheasants had been seen, and whether cocks or hens predominated in a district, and honorary rangers could help in promoting friendly relations between land owners and sportsmen. It must be admitted that upon occasions warrants had been issued to unsuitable persons, and that there were rangers who had become unsuitable, chiefly through loss of interest, some time after their warrants were issued. The difficulty in recalling these warrants was that they were granted by the advice of the Government or Minister, who would not recall them unless instances of poaching could be proved. It had been decided by the acclimatisation societies to ' bring all warrants within a currency of three years. After that the licences could be renewed upon application, in which case 99 per cent, would be supported. ANNUAL REPORTS WANTED. Mr. Caldwell said that after seeing men apply for rangers' licences year after year, and hearing nothing more of them, he had prepared the following suggestions: On appointment the honorary ranger should be given a full list of duties, and should report to the society each year, covering poaching and the prevalence of vermin, etc. It was true that a certain amount of poaching went on. There was no doubt that better use could be made of the honorary rangers, who could hold their own annual meeting, from which some useful information could be secured, such as the amount of game shot, suitable places for the liberation of pheasants, etc., and. the same thing could apply to "fishing information. The honorary rangers could gather much of this information while fishing or shooting. .Ranger P.' Willson said that many honorary rangers had been appointed and nothing more was heard of them. A working familiarity with the Animals Protection and Game Act, the Fisheries Act, and the opossum regulations was essential to honorary rangers, who were often in doubt as to their powers. Honorary rangers had full powers to stop people in motorcars under certain circumstances, or to examine a man's bag, but usually they gave information too late to be acted upon. Honorary rangers, knowing their district well, could give valuable information about suitable spots for liberation of game, or streams that should be stocked. Mr. J. A. Baine, an honorary ranger of many years standing, a member of the Tararua Tramping Club, with a keen interest in the preservation of forests and native birds, said that in his opinion the honorary ranger who advertised the fact that he was one, by that act alone exerted a considerable restraining influence. A known ranger in a locality certainly restricted poaching, whereas the ranger who hid his light and spied about often did not affect the issue. The society's council should supply honorary rangers with the relative Acts. On the motion of Mr. D. J. Gibbs, seconded by Mr.'Baine, it was decided that it be a recommendation from the meeting that the Animals Protection and Game Act be amended to provide that an honorary ranger's warrant shall remain in force only for a period of three years, with the right of the Acclimatisation Society to recommend renewal in desirable cases. It was also decided to make booklets available to all honorary rangers to enable them to appreciate their duties and powers.