Sportsmen in the Manawatu

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 73, 27 March 1936, Page 8

Sportsmen in the Manawatu

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY FACES NEW YEAR OF ACTIVITY.

There was a very large attendance at the annual meeting last evening of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The chair was occupied by Mr. R. W. Priest, who expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present. It was a token of the interest taken in the society by sportsmen, and was an incentive to thd committee to carry on the work they were doing. A special welcome was extonded to members of the Wellington Society who had journeyed up for the meeting. They were Dr. G. F. V. Anson (chairman), Mr. E. J. C. Wiffin (secretary), Mr. A. Seed, and Mr. C. E. Aldridge. Mr. Wickham, secretary of tho Feilding branch, was also welcomed. The annual report as published, together with the balance-sheet, were read and adopted. Committee Elected. The following committee was elected: Messrs. E. G. Matthews, E. G. Ward, W. Proctor, W. H. Hoskings, R. W. Priest, G. Nielsen, 11. W. Scott, W. Rowlands, R. Proctor, H. Lane, W. Woodmore, F. Haley, W. H. Seward, A. Marshall, C. Lane, F. Orr, G. Withers. At a subsequent meeting, Mr. R. W. Priest was unanimously re-elected chairman and delegate to the Wellington Society, tribute being paid to his services in the past year. Mr. R. Proctor was re-elected secretary. Mr. P. S. Larcomb was re-appointed hon. auditor. Committee meetings will be held on the last Thursday of each month, except that the next one will be on April 23. Dr. Anson, addressing the meeting, emphasised that councillors were not parochial in their interests, nor did they cater for one particular section. Sport was becoming increasingly difficult to support, and yet it was the definite aim of the society not only to keep the sport as it was, but to improve it. There was a responsibility on all license-holders to support acclimatisation societies. The societies had been given to understand that they must put forward a policy; otherwise their days were assuredly numbered. Sportsmen must get behind these societies if they desired the maintenance of field game. The present Minister was likely to be sympathetic, as he was a sportsman himself. - Nevertheless, he had declared that acclimatisation societies did not know their own minds, and he had some justification for this, because sub-committecs too frequently made premature criticisms of what councils had decided. Criticism should be made through proper channels. The former Government had robbed the societies of their main source of revenue—opossum trapping fees—and until that was restored not a great deal could be expected of them. That revenue should be made available again at an early date, said Mr. Matthews. Representations to that end were being made frequently, assured Dr. Anson. Fish Research. Mr. Seed outlined the activities oj. the fish committee in liberating fry. While they depended almost entirely on fishing revenue, only about 40 per cent, of their funds remained (after overhead) for purchase and rearing of ova. Much of their efforts in liberation of fry and yearlings had been waste efforts in the past, said the speaker. There were many factors, many of them hitherto quite unknown, governing fish population, and special study of these was essential. Tho enemies of the fish were apparently increasing, and his personal observations suggested that one. or two astute shags, from one vantage point, might take more fish from'a river than all the rods in a season. A special effort against shags and eels should be made; but it should be made systeniaticaly. If a record were taken of the stomach contents of eels and shags, for one' season, invaluable information would accrue as to how future expenditure should be directed. Opinions at present were often widely divergent. License-holders must recognise the absolute need for maintaining freshwater fish research. Liberation of Pheasants. Mr. Aldridgo described the steps taken to the end of liberating pheasants through the district. It was hoped next year to procure further incubators for the game farm at Paraparaumu, so that more birds could be liberated. No parochial considerations were entertained in distributing the pheasants. The speaker said he considered it imperative for the present license fee to be increased. It seemed ridiculous that such extensive privileges over various game could be obtained all for £l. Subdistricts should co-operate in the matter, forwarding suggestions as well as criticisms. Only thus could acclimatisation bodies survive. Services Eulogised. The Wellington members paid a tribute to the way in which the Palmerston North delegate (Mr. Priest) had carried out his duties in the past year. He had both served his district and assisted the society by and large. Thanks were expressed to tho Wellington councillors for their interest in attending the meeting. Mr. Priest moved a vote of thanks to landowners of the district for the manner in which they had given access to sportsmen.. But for these courtesies, sportsmen would have a pretty lean time, said the chairman, whose remarks were heartily endorsed. COMMITTEE MEETING. Mr. Priest presided at the monthly meeting of the- Palmerston North branch prior to the annual meeting,