PROPOSED RISE IN GAME LICENCE FEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1947, Page 2

PROPOSED RISE IN GAME LICENCE FEES

Application will be made by the council of South Island Acclimatisation Societies to the Department of Internal Affairs for permission to increase the game licence fees by 5s a year. This was decided by. the council at its annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday, when a remit from the Otago society was carried by six votes to four. Mr S. Z F. Aburn, representing the Otago Society, said the fees had been unchanged for many years. All other posts had gone up, and today some societies found their revenue decreasing, and could do little to assist the shooting men. ■ He had been instructed to oppose the remit on general principles, said Mr J. McKenzie, representing the North Canterbury Society. _lt was dangerous to accept or grant increases without mature consideration being given. , The proposal was also opposed by the representatives of the Grey, Southland and Waimate societies. They said that the finances of nios.u societies were in a healthy condition, and that an increase in fees was not justified. In reply, Mr Aburn said some societies were, in sound financial positions, but others found that their reserves were dwindling. The Otago society did not want to hoard money, but rather to spend for the benefit of sportsmen.