ACCLIMATISATION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 50

ACCLIMATISATION

SOME NEAV PROPOSALS. The proposal is likely to be shortly placed before the acclimatisation societies of the colony that they should merge themselves into the new Tourist Department established by the Government, thereby securing a central administration and preventing the diffusion of authority and waste of money which at present takes place. It is pointed out that if the fees accruing from licenses were merged into one fund, large importations of fish and game could be made every year and distributed over the colony, as an alternative to tlie haphazard methods at present prevailing by which each district, acting on its own initiative, imports small, and therefore expensive consignments of birds, beasts, or fishes without being able to ensure their proper upkeep and supervision while on board ship. It is admitted that at the present time large sums of money are absolutely wasted in administrative expenses by district acclimatisation societies which, if pooled, would amount to a very handsome sum. In Air T. E. Donne, the head of the new Tourist Department, we have an enthusiast in matters of sport; also a level - headed man who could be trustboth in the purchase of game and its ed to act fairly by the whole community, distribution. Air Donne knows, perhaps, as nnich as any man in the colony about the localities in which different varieties of game would be likely to thrive and flourish; and he w-ould be sure to interest himself in securing the stocking of localities like Tongariro Park and other reserves which, in time to come, would make excellent preserves. The licenses for shooting ever these reserves would considerably augment the revenues of the .Tourist Department; which could then re-double its efforts in the cause of acclimatisation. An arrangement such as has been here sketched would have the additional advantage of putting an end to the friction which has arisen from time to time in reference to the opening of the shooting season in different localities. Ministers would be likely to listen to the advice of their departmental experts, whilst as it is thet- are merely distracted by the conflicting representations of interested disputants. Of course it would he impossible to satisfy everybody, but uniformity of action would he obtained, and that would compensate all minor disadvantage. .1 Another proposal which has . been made, but which is perhaps more open to discussion than those aforementioned, is that the stock inspectors throughout the various districts should also act as rangers. Of course it w-ould be well if the stock inspectors could he induced to interest themselves in acclimatisation ; but even the prospect of a substantial reward for securing the conviction of poachers would hardly reconcile the gentlemen of the Stock Department to act as Crown witnesses in prosecutions for breaches of tlie game laws.