CONSERVING GREY DUCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 10

CONSERVING GREY DUCK

PROPOSED CLOSE SEASON . MATAMATA SPORTSMEN'S VIEWS [from our own correspondent] MATAMATA. Friday The Matamata branch of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society decided at a meeting last evening to urge upon the Minister of Internal Affairs that tht 1935 season be a close one for grey duck, and that the 1936 season be open with a licence fee of £'2. Mr. W. W. Livingstone, president of the branch, presided, and Mr. F. E. McKenzie, of Auckland, addressed the meeting. The feeling on the matter was unanimous. It was also decided to urge that artificial feeding of grey duck be prohibited except in sanctuaries. The. destruction caused by pukeko was also discussed, and it was decided that in view of the proved destruction by pukeko of grey duck epgs and young, that an open season be declared in duck breeding counties for pukeko to prevent further increase in their numbers.

The need for an advisory committee to give expert advice on flora and fauna was emphasised and the meeting decided to urge that an advisory committee consisting of representatives of the Acclimatisation Society, the Bird Protection Society, the Zoological Society and thf, Forestry League bo set up to bo ready with expert advice for the Minister's guidance. In urging that a smaller limit be placed upon bags of grey duck, Mr. McKenzie said the present limit was 25 a day. T& A roll a had voted for a reduction to 12 and Huntly to 15, while Thames had been against any reduction. It was unanimously decided to support a reduction to 15 a day, with an open season limit of two months in future years.