THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5013, 14 March 1877, Page 3

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LTTTELTOH TIMES. Sin,—l was very glad to see in your issue of March 9 a letter signed "Sportsman," whoso remarks and opinions I fully endorse, especially those contained in the middle portion of the letter. It seems to me that the Acclimatisation (Society has taken too much upon itself in thus altering the shooting season as estab.ished by law. If the Committee were elected by the general public, they would have some authority for so doing; but as it is a practically private affair, in which the Society elects its own Committee, I fail to see what power they have over the actions of the public The very name too— Acclimatisation Society—shows that the Society is organised for the purpose of "introducing and habituating to this climate" (dictionary) birds, &c., from other countries; instance sparrows and other pests. On this ground alone I thint that, when they ask Mr Bolleeton to confirm their resolution respecting native ducks, that gentleman would do well in telling them plainly to mind their own business. Compared to the coolness exhibited by this sapient body, an iceberg is scorching. The-* introduce all manner 9f pests, take upon themselves to piss resolutions objectionable to moßt men, and then have the audacity to appoint a collector to, as tt wore, squeoze money out of an already too generous public. Their conceit in fancying that they know better than the framers of the duckshooting laws, to the efficacy of which the number of ducks now to be seen fully testifies, may ba estimated by reading the names of those who composed the Committee. I know for a fact that maßy farmers who would willingly allow the ducks to eat their peas, &c., and in fact encourage them to do so until the first of April, will not tolerate them until May, but will commence shooting them at once. Hoping that this letter will have the desired effect, I am, &c, C. L., Irwell.