FISHING AT TAUPO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 10

FISHING AT TAUPO.

AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIVES. THE RIGHTS OF ANGLERS. REASON FOR DIFFERENT FEES. VIEWPOINT OF GOVERNMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. That the aim of the Government in acquiring the native rights to the bed of Lake Taupo and the streams flowing into it was to provide all anglers with an equal right to fish in Taupo waters, was emphasised by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. R. F. Bollard, in an interview to-day. The Minister, who is in charge of the fisheries of the district, said there appeared to be much misapprehension regarding the reasons that actuated the Government in the action it took regarding the Taupo fisheries. He said anglers who had been in the habit of fishing in Taupo waters complained that the action taken by certain persons debarred them from fishing in some of the rivers and streams, notwithstanding that their licence purported to authorise them to fish in various waters throughout the Dominion. It was found on inquiry that the natives made a charge for an alleged right to fish, that was subsequently modified to a right to enter on their lands. In other cases, at the Tokaanu end of the lake, a large part of the river was, in effect, controlled by the local hotelkeeper, who had huts on various parts of the river and on the island known as the "Delta," at the mouth of the Tongariro River. Anglers were prevented from fishing in various parts of the river, ex cept with the consent of the hotelkeeper, who claimed the right to apportion the waters and pools to the exclusion of all others. Rich Man Benefited. "It had been fairly well known that the' effect of the restrictions the Maoris and their agents imposed debarred in some cases persons who went to Tokaanu for the purpose of a day's fishing in tlie Tongariro River. The majority of persons who fished in portions of the Tongariro River, said the Minister, were overseas visitors who were generally able to pay more than the average New Zealand fisherman could afford. Consequently, the river was rapidly becoming a rich man's fishing reserve and this principle was also developing in regard to other rivers and streams. In view of this the Government realised that it was necessary to take some action to enable every angler to havo a right to fish in Taupo waters, and as a, consequence it became necessary to enter into an agreement with the native owners. The Minister went on to review the conference between the Prime Minister and the native owners, who conceded their rights in consideration for a fixed sum yearly. Legislation had been passed to give effect to this agreement, under which the control of Taupo waters passed to the Crown. "In fixing the fees payab.'ie for the | right to fish in Taupo waters," oonI .tinued the Minister, "it wus necessary to consider, firstly, the resident of Taupo; secondly, the resident of other parts of the Dominion; and, thirdly, the oversea visitor. The oversea fisherman has to pay double as much as a resident of the Dominion (other than a Taupo resident), while the resident of the Dominion pays double that payable by a resident of the Taupo district. The reason for the distinction between a resident of the Taupo district and another part of the Dominion is that the Fisheries Act allows a person to fish on his own lands without a licence during the open season. Charges May Be Bevised. "This provision has been repealed as far as Taupo waters are concerned, and every person will therefore have to take oat a licence, though a certain number of freo licences will be granted to members of the Tuwharetoa tribe as part of the settlement of the question." Mr. Bollard said the department controlling the Taupo fisheries was naturally desirous of obtaining as much revenue as possible, as a considerable amount of expenditure would be necessary in order to give adequate facilities to anglers in the Way of clearing the banks of streams, etc., and also in keeping up the supplies and improving the quality of trout in the district, "But it is realised," he pointed out, "that it may be necessary in future seasons to make some alterations in thd scale of fees if the present scale is found to inflict hardship on any particular class of the community. It is believed that it be feasible to reduce, at all events in some cases, the fees in question." OPEITC2TG OF THE SEASON. EXCELLENT CATCHES REPORTED. [BX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAUPO, Monday. The fishing season opened this morning and some excellent catches were secured. A party of three fishing with the fly at the entrance of the Waikato River into the lake secured 27 trout and a 15-pound er was caught a short distance lower down. There is no information available regarding trolling results. Reports from Tokaanu are good Three anglers on the Tongariro River, which is fairly high, secured 33 fish. The sport is said to be good- The lake is fully a foot above the normal level. SUCCESSES AT BOTOBT7A. " ■ ■ ' FISH IN GOOD CONDITION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] RO'TORTJA, Monday. Many fishing parties went out on the lakes to-day and anglers report that the trOut are in good, condition. Messrs. Pickle and Hastedt, fishing on Lake Rotoiti, caught 20 good fish, the largest being 51b. Another party on the Rotorua and Rotoiti Lakes landed 20 fine fish, the largest being 61b.