FISHING LICENCES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 236, 18 September 1936, Page 9

FISHING LICENCES

Addition to be Applied to Research BILL PASSED BY HOUSE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. The Hon. P. Fraser moved the second reading of the Fisheries Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. He said the Bill was aimed to assist shermen of the Dominion by providing that research work should be undertaken. The fee for fishing licences, except at Rotorua, would be fixed by Order-in-Council, and it was suggested that the fee should be increased from £1 to 25/-. and of the increase a halfcrown would go to acclimatisation . societies and a half-crown to freshwater fish research. lie claimed that the results of research would more than repay fishermen for the increase in tho fee. Acclimatisation socities were practically unanimous that the Bill was a step in the right direction. Tho amount available, he added, would be about £1250.

The Rt. lion. J. G. Coates asked what was meant by the mystic word “research.” He did not like an amendment of the sort proposed. He thought the Minister should have fixed definitely tho fee to be charged and not to have

Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell) left it to Order-in-Council. thought tho Government should follow Australia’s example and get an overseas expert to investigate the position. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat. Otago Central) thought, that the Minister should do more than merely cooperate with acclijMMUsutiou societies. A complete re-

view of fishing in the Dominion should be made, and the Minister should make a full statement. Ho contended that not cnouph attention was paid to south-

ern rivers. Tho Hon. A. Hamilton (Nat., Wallace) said that tho increase was not out of tho way, but he hoped that the £1250 would bo spent regularly every year. Tho Bill was put through al! stages and parsed