FISHING RIGHTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 88, 12 March 1935, Page 6

FISHING RIGHTS.

A matter of considerable importance to anglers is involved in the advice that has been forwarded to the Mayor of Rotorua, that the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Auckland has been instructed to report to the Government on the question of protecting- the access to fishing waters in the district. Recently, representations were made to the Govrnent regarding the rapidly increasing restrictions which were being placed upon anglers by the assumption of riparian rights by private interests. Past Governments have been lax in the matter. At considerable cost. to the State and to the Acclimatisation Societies the fishing areas in Taupo and Rotorua have been stocked with fish; but the State did not reserve to itself the riparian rights, and as pointed out to the Prime Minister several weeks ago in the districts affected the blunder is being continued. The seriousness of the position is shown by the fact that yearly the access to fishing water is being reduced while the number of anglers is steadily increasing. The problem has become acute on the shores of Lake Taupo and on the banks of the Upper Waikato River, as well as in Rotorua. When the matter was placed before him, Mr Forbes declared that we were drifting into a position which 'the people would not tolerate. He has redeemed the promise of an early invest io-ation by despatching a responsible officer to Rotorua. It is a fact that at Taupo Mr Forbes was bluntly informed that the Lands Department itself had closed miles of the lake shore east of the township, and this provides a full reason ’for an investigation in this area also. Trout fishing is the most valuable of our tourist attractions. and nothing should be permitted to be done that impairs the value of this asset. Annually sportsmen come from overseas to fish in New Zealand waters because their first experience has provided them with rare sport that is unknown in their own country; many others take the opportunity as it is presented to them. But it is injurious to the Dominion’s interests for restrictions to be placed upon the access to the waters. New Zealand an Hers are entitled to the same consideration, but the position as at present existing is that many trespass when least avaie oi doing so. The matter is one to be prosecuted vigorously by the Government.