TROUT AT ROTORUA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 3

TROUT AT ROTORUA.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. STATE CONTROL DEFENDED. NO CHANGE TO BE MADE. (Fboh Oub Own Cobbespondktt.) WELLINGTON, July 24. The arguments in support of the request by a large number of people at Rotorna and Tatipo thai the Rotorua and Taupo trout fisheries should be removed from the control of the Government and placed raider the charge of a local acclimatisation society, were placed before the Minister of Internal Affaire (the Hon. H. D. Bell) by the deputation from the conference of delegates of acclimatisation societies which interviewed him to-day. Mr C. B. Mormon said that if the fisheries were under the oontrol of a local society they would be in the charge of people who did the work out of love for it. The work would be much better done than it was done by tho officials of a State department. The Government was bringing an expert from Canada to advise it in regard to the fisheries, and the question was whether his recommendations would he carped oat as well by Government officials

as by a body of sportsmen who were en-

thusiasts. As one who had had many yeara' experience of. fishing in these districts, he felt sure that they could get the best work from the enthusiasts. He did not cast any aspersion upon the officials of the department, but this was a special kind of work which enthusiasts could do better and more cheaply than Government officials oould do it. If they wanted to get effective work they must secure the co-operation of the whole of the people ■whose interests were concerned ; but the people in thig case were so disheartened by what had taken place of Tecent years that they felt that they could not cooperate with the department. These fisheries were a dominion asset, and they should be placed under the most effective system of control.

Mr Bell said that ho hoped that it was no mora than a coincident that the demand for the Temoval of the control of these fisheries from the department should be made just after he had taken over its control.—(Laughter.) He hoped to be able to prove to them that they were wrong in the attitude that they had taken up. He would not attempt to deceive them by telling them that he would give the matter consideration. He had already considered the matter, and he had made np his mind that the request would not be granted. He -did not- intend, so long as he had control of the department, to allow what Mr Morison had properly described as a dominion asset to be handed over to any local society. The department, however, desired to work in every possible way with any local organisation, and it was quite ready to facilitate the constitution of a formal acclimatisation society in the district. Those who were asking for the change hardly appreciated the great expense_ that the administration of these fisheries involved. Large sums had already been expended, and would have to be _expended_ if they wore to have an efficient administration of these lakes on up-to-date and scientific lines. The department would be quite glad of the co-ooera-tion of a local society, but he did not think that its funds would be equal to the financial burden that the work entailed.

Evidence in jegard to the petition asking for the, local control of the fisheries was taken by the A to L Petitions Committee' to-day ......