ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 27 January 1933, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

REVENUE FROM OPOSSUMS. PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT. Tlie initial meeting for 1933 of the Palmerston North branch of the Wei lington Acclimatisation Society was held last night, when Mr E. G. Matthews presided over a good attendance of members. The chairman reported that he had explained to the council in Wellington the members’ attitude in respect to the Federation of Anglers, and the atmosphere had been satisfactorily cleared with what he hoped would be beneficial results to local members. Another matter which had come up for discussion at the council meeting had been the number of decoys, but it had been the consensus of opinion that the regulations permitting of 15 decoys instead of. 25 over an area of 100 yards square would prevent overloading. The game committee of the council in Wellington advised that it had been recommended that the following basis of allocation of 600 pheasants be followed: Pahiatua 50, Levin 50, Whiteman’s Valley 15, Akatarawa 15, Pahautanui, Moonshine 10, Palmerston North 90, Shannon 15, Maherua 5, Tokomaru 20, Turakina 25, iVlarton 40, etc. The chairman mentioned that some objection had been raised to Palmerston North’s quota, hut he had pointed out the number of licenses issued locally and that the extent of the area fully merited the quota. The determining of the type ot country in which it was advisable to liberate the. birds was discussed and Messrs Hosking, W. Ward and Scott, together with the chairman, were set up as a committee to confer with the ranger on the matter. Professor Percival, of Canterbury College, forwarded matter in connection with fish research work for distribution among members interested.

RIVER GAUGE. The chairman commented upon the readings of the electric river gauge at Fitzlierbert bridge, pointing out that the old groyne and the electric gauges were not operating in unison. There were three hundred sportsmen who watched the reported levels in the Press, but it was evident that there was a difference somewhere. When the level would be stated at 3ft 6in, fishermen would find on reaching the river that it was 2ft 6in. Mr Hosking pointed out that it was possibdle that silt was causing the difference, and it was decided that the Manawatu-Oroua River Board be written to asking that the gauge on the groyne be synchonised with the electric gauge. REVENUE FROM OPOSSUMS.

An article from a journal protesting against the action of the Government in confiscating all the societies’ revenue from opossums was read by the secretary, the chairman commenting at tho outsec that the Government was agreeable to giving the societies the proceeds from the sales of confiscated skins provided their rangers carried out the ranging work as heretofore. However, the returns would hardly pay for the rangers’ benzine, added the speaker. At the conclusion of the report, lie remarked that the acclimatisation societies had been responsible for the development of the opossum by keeping in check poachers. Further, the majority of opossums were on private land and not on Crown lands, and only one prosecution had been launched by Government officers without co-operation with the societies’ rangers. Mr Hosking: Then it is a breach of trust on the part of the Government. The chairman: Yes. Of the revenue derived from opossums the acclimatisation societies have expended 20 per cent, on fish research and in the first two years the Wellington Acclimatisation Society alone paid out £2OOO in this direction. If it is to lose its opossum revenue there is no possibility of the game fees being reduced, unless the Government takes over the cost of fish research. On the motion of Mr Ward, seconded by Mr Page, it was decided to enter a strong protest condemning the action of the Government in confiscating moneys rightly belonging to the Acclimatisation Societies. GENERAL AFFAIRS.

The question of observing a close season for game, both New Zealand and imported, was considered in view of the falling revenue, but it was considered that the disadvantages of a closed season outweighed the advantages which would result, and on the motion of Mr E. Ward, seconded by Mr Scott, it was decided to make the 1934 season an open one. Mr R. Priest enquired whether the council had arrived at any decision concerning the closing of the deer shooting season, the chairman replying that he presumed the same date as last season would bo observed. Mr Procter reported that a fisherman had recently taken 55 fish from tlie Kahuterawa Stream with the minnow before he had secured his limit of 15 of over 10 inches in length, and he suggested that the Tiritea and Kahuterawa streams be closed to other than fly fishing. Some opposition was voiced to the imposition of further restrictions, but tlie chairman stressed the point that those streams were the nurseries of the society and it was decided to impose the restrictions. The question of launching an eel drive was introduced by Mr E. Ward and it was taken up with enthusiasm by the members. Arrangements were made for a drive at' Hamilton’s bend on Wednesday niglit. Five teiims of four aside were selected and ways and means of making it a big night U'sre furthered.