RESEARCH NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 6

RESEARCH NEEDED

FRESH WATER FISHING INCREASE IN LICENCES The desirability of thorough research into matters relating to fresh water fish was stressed on both sides of the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Fisheries Amendment Bill was put through all its stages and passed. . . In moving the second reading, the Minister of Marine • (the Hon. P. Fraser) said the Bill aimed at assisting fishermen throughout the Dominion by providing funds for research work.. The te? for licences, except those in Rotorua, would be fixed by Order in Council. It was suggested that they 'should be increased from £1 to 255, and that of the increase 2s 6d should go to acclimatisation societies and the other 2s 6d to fresh water fish, research. He, was quite sure that the benefits from the research would more than repay the increase. At 25s there was no cheaper sport in the- country. .. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo): How much does it cost to catch each fish?. , ■

Mr. W. J.'Poison (National, Stratr ford): When you work out how much it costs to catch each fish it is not so cheap. , The Minister: It depends on* the expertness of the fisherman, with a bit of luck thrown in. He went on to say that if the rivers could be stocked better, and the quality of the fish kept up, fishermen would be getting a bargain at 25s a year. He expressed the view that the question of salt water fishing was more important to the country than fresh water fishing. The Rt Hon. J. G. Coates (National, Kaipara) asked the Minister what good he thought the extra 5s would do. What was the: meaning of • the mystic word "research"? He thought that the fees should have been defined in the Bill, and not by Order in Council. Mr. W. Pi Endeah (National, Parnell) agreed on the need for proper research* and suggested that the Government should follow Australia's example and,ge| an expert from abroad to make a thorough investigation and .report. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National; Central Otago) said that fresh water fishing was one of the most valuable assets in the country, but the quantity of the fish had decreased and the quality .deteriorated. He thought that the Government would have to do more than merely seek the co-operation of the acclimatisation societies, A complete investigation of the position throughout the Dominion shoull be made, and the Minister should make a full statement.

The Minister said that research was being carried on, but there was not enough money to do the Job, and the associated acclimatisation societies had asked the Marine Department to take it over. The Hon. A. Hamilton (National, Wallace) said that the biggest enemy of the fish was dynamite. He did not think that the increase: in the fees was out of the way, but it was a fact that where an increase was made for a certain period it was likely to stay there. He hoped that the £1250 would be spent regularly year after year. He did not see why Rotorua should be exempted.