N.Z. SPORTING FACILITIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1939, Page 10

N.Z. SPORTING FACILITIES

STATE CONTROL ADVOCATED

WELLINGTON, August 24

“My idea would be that a department should be set up to control freshwater fish, game, and bird life generally, with a commissioner at the head, and a biological section for investigation and research,” said the Minister for Internal Affairs (Mi-. W. E. Parry) in an interview, when discussing the future of fishing and shooting in New Zealand. The Minister said that he had at the moment no immediate plan for the creation of such a department; but three years’ experience as Minister had convinced him of its need. “I feel it incumbent upon me to give a truthful view of the present position and the future,” Mr. Parry continued. “If such a method of organisation as that which I have described. is set up it will, I feel sure, overcome the practical extinction of sport.” Mr. Parry expressed concern at recent statements which, he said, were aimed at creating fear among the license holders that they would have to pay huge fees. He would remind some of those who had made such statements that they themselves had supported the recent rise in fees. The Minister said: “After three years as Minister, I can see that we are not gaining ground. Sport is going back, and it is no use misleading sportsmen, it would be unfair for me to misrepresent the position. Scarcely anyone will disagree with the idea of maintaining the fish, game and bird life of the Dominion, that being common ground. All we have to do is to summarise the position, when we will see that they are becoming less, and .hat our sportsmen are dissatisfied with the results. It would be unfair to delude them, and I am not going to do so.” • The recent statement by Mr. F. E. McKenzie, president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, was challenged by the Minister. He said that Mr. McKenzie evidently considered that the point at stake was whether sport should be run under (be present administration or under State control; but he had no hesitation in saying that this was not the ground upon which a decision should be made. “The ground should be whether we are to pursue our present policy., which means the inevitable destruction of game, or whether we should •have a stocktaking of what has happened, and whether wo are prepared to make an attempt to meet the requirements of to-day,” Mr. Parry said. “We have reached the stage in fish and game where we have exploited all our- natural advantage, and today we are in the position where iesearch is needed. The natural conditions of the past, giving natural supplies of game, birds, fish, and fish food are now apparently gone, and the only means by which we can attempt to bring this state back is by investigation and research.

“I am not blaming any organisation or society for the conditions that, exist in game and fish,” the Minister continued. “We have done much the same as other countries. We have imide use of natural advantages; but we have come to a lull stop, in my opinion, because I feel that the results •of practical experience with fish and game have been exhaust cd. I believe that the future is in the hands oi science, and research organi;salion is {imperative if this is to be carried out in Iho way I believe ii should. There I is no reason why such an orga n mation should not avail itself of local ad-

vice, and I believe that advisory councils would be of very great assistance in achieving (he ultimate objective.”