ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1934, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES

l AMALGAMATION DISCUSSED. The conference of delegates from the Acclimatisation Societies at Wellington recently considered certain points raised by the Internal Affairs Department’s report on the smaller societies. The report dealt with the number of societies and amalgamation. It acknowledged there had been negotiations towards amalgamation, but nothing had been really done, although the department considereo many of the smaller societies had insufficient funds to undertake ranging and ether duties which should be carried out by societies. Mr Malcolm Fraser, the Undersecretary, amplified the report. Only the smaller societies were unrepresented at the conference, and the whole subject of amalgamation was freely discussed. Mr Fraser, in effect, told them it was for the societies themselves to put their house in order, and that delays wfere straining the public patience, which was already weary. The position in North Auckland was explained by Mr F. E. Mackenzie (Auckland), who told the delegates that Mr Parkin had endeavoured to get a conference of the five Northern societies, but had failed to do so. These societies did not arouse the interest amongst sportsmen that they should, and many of them did not seem to have funds for ranging or for carrying out the duties of societies. If the societies could not get a meeting they should be told by the department to hold onfe, and if that failed the department could then order them out of existence.

Mr Robertson, for Southland, agreed that this was the proper course.

Mr Mackenzie said the department should decide which were dead, and wipe them out. Mr Henderson (Waimarino) said his society was not anxious to amalgamate; but if it had to come about, it would be a good scheme. Mr C. A. Whitney said that since Coromandel' had joined the Auckland society the district had been better stocked with fish.

The Under-Secretary said that in his view a society that did not efficiently range was not justified, nor was it justified if it did not give value for the fees it received. If the Government had to do the ranging, then there was no use for societies. Acclimatisation societies had had a trust in their hands in regard to native birds and hative plants. If they discharged that trust properly they would live, but not otherwise. It was not the Government’s job to bring it about; the reforms should come from within. He concluded by saying: “I would commend the delegates to discuss the position from a commonsense point of view, disregarding local patriotism or parochialism and pride.” It was decided that the executive of the Acclimatisation Societies’ Association go into the whole position, and report to the individual societies.

Northern Viewpoint,

Commenting upon the foregoing, the president of the Whangarei Acclimatisation Society writes: We, in Whangarei, are of opinion that the sportsman and the general public do not give sufficient support to the societies. The societies do a great amount of work for the public good, and the members go to a great deal of personal expense and trouble to promote sport and to protect the native bird life. If sportsmen in general gave half as much time as the twelve members of the council, we would get better results. At a moderate estimate, there are about 1000 men shooting in Whangarei county, and the only thing they do is to criticise* instead of doing their share of ranging.

At the Cross Roads.

We have arrived at the cross roads. If it is too much trouble for sportsmen and the public to see that the purpose of the Animal Protection Acts are carried out, then the Government will take over the societies. This will not be of much use to North Auckland, as it is so isolated that the Government will be little interested in our shooting. The Government is more interested in creating fishing for the tourist.

If a man has one cock pheasant on his property, he goes out at the commencement of the season*and does not rest until he has shot it. There is no thought of future breeding. He does not seem to realise that the sport we have here would be worth hundreds of pounds in England. The same applies ,to the fishing. If the Englishman could get fishing like ours he would not hesitate to go hundreds of miles for it. Our people take the fish without even troubling to take out a license, or dynamite the streams, or carelessly destroy the fish by starting fires. So many people consider they are justified in taking fish and game without a license, provided they can dodge the ranger. They will not realise how well off they are until they lose the sport. Small areas will then be preserved, and the sport will be too costly for the small man, who will be left to look on and moan because the true sportsman has done what it is too ! much for them as a community to do.

Special Committee

Personally, I would like to see a special committee set up to investigate the promotion of trout fishing, the full protection of native birds, and encouragement of tree planting and protection of trees that encourage native birds. We have the fresh water fish research committee, which is doing good work in obtaining information about the life and feeding of fish. It is for the sportsmen to obtain the information which is required in order to get the necessary data for the committee to act upon. Acclimatisation societies were incorporated for the purpose of encouraging sport, for the protection and preservation of native birds and flora. The Government granted license moneys to them to enable them to carry out these good works, and the Whangarei Acclimatisation Society at any rate is quite prepared at all times to carry out the obligations imposed on societies and to work in connection with similar societies woi’king for the same ends. Unless we work with these ideas in mind, the Government will take over the societies.