ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 31

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 25. The Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference opened to-day The President (Mr Tripp), in his address, congratulated the Government on bringing an expert front Canada to report on New Zealand fisheries, and expressed tlie 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 deor, he was sorry to say there had been a distinct deterioration in Nelson and Wellington in the herds. The election of officers resulted r.o fol-lows;-—President. Mr L. Tripp (Wellington) ; vice-president, Mr C. Fitzroy (Hawke's Bay); treasurer, Mr Ostler (Wei. lington); secretary, Mr Dasent (Wellington : council —Lieut. Hazard (Auckland), Messrs J. Elliott (Grey), W. Pollard (Marlborough), M. Anderson (Canterbury), G MTntosh (Otago). E. Russell (Southland), W. Kirkwood (Stratford), MI. Southcv (Tauranga), J. Wilson (Taranaki), E. Lifliton (Wanganui), A. Lowe (Westland), E. Stowe (South Canterbury). It was resolved that a general license he issued at 2G> for shooting imported and native game, and that licenses '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 whole dominion, and the motion was lost by a large majority. The president said that one of the most important matters the conference had to deal with was to get protection put in opossums again as soon as possible. He thought the opofisum had been destroyed without a fair trial, and that the Government had made a great, mistake in removing the protection. It was resolved—- “ That the Government he urged to reinstate protection on otiossiims, providing for an open season during three months n each year (May. June. July) ; that, subject to a recommendation of a local society, a license fee of £1 and upwards be imposed : and that all shins taken during the open season must he sold within 50 (lavs after the close oi the season.’ Remits were carried urging that the control of fish and game in the Rotorua district should be placed in the hands of the local acclimatisation society, and that the matter of declaring an open or close season should rest with the acclimatisation socirtv in each district. The Government is to he asked to take drastic steps to preserve the birds ?n the national sanctuaries, and also to renew the importation of Atlantic salmon ova fre to be , released in the Waian River, Southland. The Government will further be asked to stop netting at the mouths of all rivers.