ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 7

ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE OF SOCIETIES (Peb United ‘Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 12. The New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference was opened to-day, the president (Mr L.- O. H. Tripp) presiding. The in a lengthy address, dealt with many matters in which the societies were concerned. The Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) attended the conference. The following officers were elected; — President, Mr Tripp; vice-president, .Mr Whitney; treasurer, Mr Dyer; councilor Anson and Mr Seed (Wellington), Messrs M'Kenzie (Auckland), Laurence (North Canterbury), Stockwell (Feeding), Wilson (Otago), Mackay (South Canterbury), Duigau (Wanganui), Robertson (Southland), Mogridge (Marlborough), Parkin (Whangaroa), Edmondson (Hawke’s Bay). A Southland proposal to prohibit the storage of native game in freezing works was defeated. ■ , The • conference declined to adopt the Whangaroa proposal to give rangers power to inspect vehicles on the roads for game taken illegally or to search bags of luggage belonging to gun parties. The Government is to be asked to make an addition to the Animal Game. Protection Act making it illegal to disturb nests where birds are nesting. An instance was quoted where 300 black swan eggs had been spoiled through the birds being disturbed. It was agreed that permits to destroy pukeko should be confined to May, June, and July. Mr T. G. A. Hade (Ashburton) said that pukeko had been seen to kill ducklings by dashing them against trees Mr C. A. Whitney (Auckland) said he thought that the protection could be removed. The pukeko was a cunning bird, and could look after himself. Mr J, M'Donald said that South Canterbury farmers would lay down poison unless a short season were granted. South Canterbury asked for the protection to be removed from the little gull from time to time. They swarmed up rivers for 12 miles inland, raiding young trout. Mr C. H. Lawrence (North Canterbury) said that little gulls were companionable fellows. They tooa a few trout, but not enough to justify the protection being removed. A remit which Mr H. J. Duigan (Wanganui) moved—“ That the Government be requested to remove magpies from the list of protected birds in the Wanganui and Feilding districts owing to the numerous reports that they are destroying protected birds ” —was seconded by Mr F. H. Stockwell (Feilding). Mr C. I. Dasent (Wellington) said he believed that all magpies were killers when raising their young. He instanced a lawn infested with grass grubs; three magpies in one month had' practically destroyed the grub. Mr Tripp suggested that evidence against the magpie should be recorded. It would be better to leave the protection on and to apply for a permit in special cases. The remit was withdrawn.