FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 4

FEILDING

BRITISH FARMERS’ VISIT. ARRANGEMENTS IN TRAIN. Arrangements were made at a meeting of the Wellington central provineiol executive of tlie Farmers’ Union at Marton, yesterday, to entertain the party, of touring British farmers who are expected to arrive in Feilding on Saturday, March 7, about noon. The party will be the guests of the executive in the afternoon, and proceed to Palmerston North later. It was decided to make arrangements to entertain the visitors at luncheon and to take them sight-seeing during the afternoon. A small committee was set up to complete arrangements and the co-operation of the Women’s Division is to be sought in this connection.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL,

The council of the Feilding Acclimatisation Society met last night, the president (Mr F. H. Stoekwcll) presiding. Also present were Messrs p. G. Fraser, T. Burne, C. J. Wickham, W. J. Alpe, P. P. Stevens, E. Ingram, D. McKay, G. Lawrence, N. Rosoman and Rev. Father Hegarty. The chairman welcomed Rev. Father Hegarty back to the meeting and expressed the hope that he was now fully recovered from his recent illness.

The Grey River Acclimatisation Society forwarded a copy of a protest it had made to the Minister of Internal Affairs against the Government taking all the opossum revenue and leaving the societies to do all the work on no revenue.

The chairman moved that the letter be received, stating that the council had previously supported a protest on the same lines.

Acknowledgment was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs Of the council’s recommendation that 1936 be observed as a close season for all game in the North Island, and stating that in view of the dissimilarity of societies’ opinion on the question it had been found impossible to act as suggested. In a further letter, the department advised that, following the receipt of recommendations on the same question from other societies, the lack of unanimous opinion had been so pronounced that it had been decided to indefinitely postpone any endeavour to get a universal close season in the North Island until such time as the Minister of Internal Affairs had been able to discuss the matters fully with the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society’s conference. In the- meantime the various societies would observe their respective recommendations regarding the shooting season, but if a universal close season was decided upon later those societies observing a close season this year would be expected to fall into line. The chairman reported that he and Mr Wickham (secretary) had dealt with the matter and had recommended an open season for Feilding this year under the same conditions as last year, their action being confirmed. Dir Wickham reported on the liberation of the fingerling trout, .stating that the fish had been liberated further afield this year than ever before. They were all in good condition when set free, and the rivers and streams should show a benefit later.

Discussing fishing generally, the elminfian stated that the constant floods in the streams and rivers had been against successful fishing, and if the present conditions persisted, license-holders woidd hardly secure an adequate return for their outlay. Mr Stoekwcll also reported that he had heard that rabbits were on the increase in the Poliangina Valley and that the local authority there was contemplating poisoning to clean them out. If this was so it would be unfortunate as the pheasants that the council had liberated in that locality were well-established and doing well.

In regard to opossums in the Feilding district, it was decided to apply to have a close season this year.