ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15824, 24 July 1913, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. (Per United Phess Association.) WELLINGTON, July 23. The Acclimatisation Societies' Confeience opened to-day The President !Mv Tripp), in his address, congratulated the Government on bringing an expert from Canada to report on New Zealand fisheries, and expressed the opinion that the Government, should consider the question of looking for a young man in New Zealand to take up the scientific side of the fisheries and t.) advise the Government as to the best means of improvement. Regarding red deer, he was sorry to say there had been a distinct deterioration in Nelson and Wellington in the herds.

The election of officers resulted as fol-lows-.—President. Mv L. Tripp (Wellington) ; vicc-president, Mt G. Fitzroy (Hawke's Bay); treasurer, Mr Ostlsr (Wei. lirtgt-on); secretary, Mr Dascnfc (Welling, ton; council—Lieut. Hazard (Auckland), Messrs J. Elliott (Grey), W. Pollard (Marlborough), M. Andenson (Canterbury), fj M'lntosh (Otago). E. Russell (Southland), W. Kirkwood (Stratford), H. Souther (Tauranga), J. Wilson (Taranaki), E. Lifliton (Wanganui), A. Lowe (Westland), K. Stuwe (South Canterbury); It was resolved that a general license be issued at 20s for shooting imported and native game, and that licenses f or shooting native game be issued at 10s per annum. Strong opposition was offered to the Auckland proposal to make a shooting license issued in any one place applicable to the wholo dominion, and the motion was lest by a large majority.

Tbe president said that one of the most important matters the conference had to (leal with was to got protection put in opossums again as scon as possible. He thought the opossum had been destroyed without a fair hiil, and that the Government lad made a great mistake in removing Ihe protection. It was resolved— "That the Government he urged to reinstate protection on opossums, providing for an open season during three months p each year (May, June. July): that, subject to a recommendation of a local society, a license fee of £l and upwards be imposed ; and that all skins taken during the open season must be sold within 30 d.rra aft«r the close of the season."

Remits were carried- urgim; that the control of fish and t;ame in the Rotorua. district should be placed in the hands of tho local acclimatisation society, and that tlte matter of declaring ail open or close season should rest with the acclimatisation society in oach district. The Government is to be .asked to Mo drastic steps to preserve the bird*, in the national sanctuaries, and also to renew the importat ><'■.< of Atlantic salmon ova frv to be released in the Waiau River, Southland. The Government will further j) 0 asked to stop netting at the mouths of all rivers.