FISHING RIGHTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 6

FISHING RIGHTS.

Eon a considerable lime past New Zealand and overseas anglers liave been considerably perturbed by the restrictions placed upon them, in several localities, through the possession ot riparian rights. Both the State and acclimatisation interests at considerable cost have stocked the rivers and lakes with trout, but failure to reserve the riparian rights has to-day brought a problem that this Government must face at once. Yearly the number of anglers increases, but steadily the access lo fishing waters is being reduced. The matter is most pressing on the shores of Lake Taupo, on the Upper Waikato River, and in the Rotorua district. Eighteen months ago, when Mr Forbes was Prime Aiiniser, he sent an officer of the Lands Department to Rotorua to investigate the problem, and to report on the preservation of the access to fishing waters. But that Department itself has been largely responsible for the problem arising at Taupo, where miles of the lake shore east of the township have been closed. At a meeting of anglers at Woodville recently the matter was again raised, when it was stated, with reference to the Waikato River, that close on IUU miles of the finest fishing waters in the world were closed to anglers because of the operation of riparian rights. It seems obvious from this that the previous investigation was resultless, and the present Minister (Lion. W. E. l’arry) who is a keen sportsman should vigorously take up the matter. The tourist industry is too valuable to be seriously retarded by the curtailment of fishing rights, and New Zealanders who by paying for their licenses help to have the rivers stocked should not be restricted. The matter calls for immediate rectification; it has been allowed to drift by successive Governments to the extent that an unnecessary problem has been created, which is injurious to the | Dominion's interests and unfair i to anglers who may innocently trespass.