ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25853, 25 May 1945, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

SEVENTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING The seventy-ninth annual meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held in the R.S.A. rooms last night. The president (Mr A. Digby Smith) occupied the chair, ar.d there was a good attendance of members. Sound Financial Position Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said .hat the society was in a sound financial position. The income had increased by £712 6s, derived principally from shooting licences, sales of ova, and' opossum revenue. The 1944 shooting season had produced a record sale of licences, due probably to the fact that a release of ammunition was made available only to holders of licences. Consequently, a considerable portion of the increase came from property owners who normally did not need a licence. Fishing licences, on the other hand, decreased by £l7 17s, no doubt because climatic conditions precluded a large number of anglers from ge.ling out. Eighty-four servicemen took advantage of the complimentary privilege extended by the society to discharged servicemen of this war. After writing off £750 as depreciation, the income showed an excess of £455 13s Id over expenditure. The chairman added that £SOO had been invested in National Savings, and the society had good reserves in (he savings banks, so that when conditions returned to normal it would have the bulk of its resources at call. Discussing the society's shooting facilities, Mr Smith said that no society could claim a greater diversity of birds for the sportsman. Quail and Chukor were doing very well in Central Otago, which was also a great rendezvous for ducks. The council was maintaining its efforts to establish both quail and Chukor in other suitable areas by means of trapping, and it was hoped soon to be able to accelerate this work. Nearly 400 pheasants were reared at the hatchery this season, and a total of 331 had been liberated. Mr J. W. Smeaton, who seconded the motion, said that members of the council were alive to the fact that fishing waters near Dunedin were very bare, and it was doing its best to see that the rivers adjacent • to Dunedin were fully stocked. The motion was carried. Election of Officers The following officers were elected: President, Mr A. Digby Smith; vice-presi-dent, Mr S. F. Aburn; council—Messrs J. M. Paterson, G. E. Turner, C. M. Kenward, J. A. Rhodes, and A. J. White. The president paid a tribute to the services of the secretary (Mr L. Millar). A vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, was proposed by Mr C. M Greenslade, to the chairmen of the committees—Messrs S. H. Barnes (Angling and Study Committtee), Turner (Game), Paterson (Game Research), Aburn (Finance), and J. McG. Wilkie (honorary engineer).