ACCLIMATISATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1938, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION

GREY DISTRICT COUNCH. The monthly meeting of the Council of the Grey District Acclimatisation Society was held last evening. Mr. H. E. Knight (president) presiding over an attendance of 14 members. In reply to the society’s request for permission to introduce Canadian geese to the district, if they were considered desirable, the Minister of Internal Affairs advised that, the position in regard to Canadian geese was that in 1!)3() it was found necessary to remove the protection from them in the Southland district, as the Southland Acclimmatisation Society was of the opinion that the birds were likely to become a serious menace to the farming community and that, as a sporting bird, they were a failure. As complaints had also been received as to the damage in ihe Ashburton and North Canterbury A.cclimatisation districts all protection on the birds in New Zealand was removed in 1931. Under the circumstances, the Minister regret led that he was not prepared Io accede Io Ihe request for permission to obtain Canadian geese for liberation in the Grey district. The Greymouth Physical Fitness Centro wrote requesting moral and financial support towards the establishment, of a gymnasium in Greymouth. It was decided that the centre be advised that the expenditure of the society’s money was governed and limited by Act of Parliament, and while ihe Council regretted it was unable to offer financial assistance, any other help would gladly be tendered. Mr. H- G- Williams, Dunedin, forwarded a comprehensive report on his investigations into the depredations of shags and their stomach contents. The report set out that over a period of six years, in various districts, 607 shags shot had been found to contain 3523 trout, varying in. length from two to IGi inches, 26 perch, 12 lamprey, I eels, 25 bullies, 5 frogs, 3 shrimps, 47 flounders (two inch size), one crayfish and two mullet.