ACCLIMATISATION

Southland Times, Issue 18973, 21 June 1923, Page 7

ACCLIMATISATION

THE UPUKARORA SCHEME. COUNCIL DISCUSSION. A special meeting of the Council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society was held last night, there being present Messrs A. H. Stock (chairman), J. Collins, J. Robertson, J. Gilkison, E. R. Stephens. T. Traynor, E. Keast. J. Butler. N. Pattie, Cowan, R. McKenzie, A. E. Tapper. Dr. A. F. R. Crawford and Captain N. McD. Weir. Some dispute arose about the validity of the previous meeting, Mr Cowan stating that not all the members had been given notice. The chairman explained that it had been called to deal with matters arising out of the report of Ranger Evans which required immediate attention, and he had had no idea that any further discussion on the scheme would arise. The rough minutes of the meeting held the previous week showed notices of motion standing as follows: —By Mr Butler—“that the ranger be instructed to procure as many eyed ova as possible, but not in the meantime to exceed last year’s estimate of £450, 25 per cent, of cost of car to be taken into account”; by Mr Collins—“that in order that the curator and ranger might not clash, the work of hatching and stripping fish should be under the control of the curator, and that the balance of the work (carting and planting of the eyed ova) be left in the hands of the ranger”; by Mr Pattie—“that Ranger Evans be appointed overseer with power under the Council’s authority to make all arrangements for stripping, eyeing and distributing the ova.” Mr Butler moved his motion. Mr Collins opposed it, stating that now that they were going to appoint Ranger Evans to take charge of the hatchery, he did not feel inclined to support the giving of authority to spend £450 in getting ova. Evans was practically inexperienced in hatchery work and he was not capable of taking charge of hatchery and stripping work. An argument between Messrs Collins and Tapper about some previous stripping opera- : tions then commenced. Mr Gilkison rose and said he deprecated the heated nature of the discussion. Referring to the scheme, he said it was common in Scotland, Canada and the United States. Probably there was no country that they knew of which went into acclimatisation as the United States did. They had a duty to perform to anglers and he thought they should take the risk of spending £450. The motion was put to the meeting and carried by 7 votes to 5. The chairman then requested Mr Collins to move his motion. Mr Collins drew attention to the notices sent out in connection with the meeting, stating that Mr Pattie’s notice of amendment to his motion had been given on the order paper, but his notice of motion had not. The order paper did not give a correct indication of the business and he asked in face of the notice whether he could be called on to move the motion. After some discussion Mr Collins said he would decline to move his motion. Mr Pattie said he was quite willing to hold back his motion. There was no particular hurry and as some of the councillors seemed to think that something was not quite square, he would not like to move a motion. They did not want to do anything questionable. Mr Traynor said the matter was drifting and drifting and becoming a danger to the Council. There were practically two parties now and the longer the matter was allowed to drift the wider the gap would become. He suggested a middle course to get over the difficulty. He did not think Evans and Friend were greatly perturbed about the matter and he could not see the necessity for altering the present arrangements. Evans had claims on them as having worked out the scheme. He suggested a letter be sent to Evans to encourage him in his research work. He had done some very fine work for the Society, but the appointment of a manager would create a precedent. Mr Butler said that there was too much of the ranger and curator being brought into the argument. He did not think they should bring them in individually. Both had their work in different divisions and it looked as if the ranger ‘hould be in charge of the whole genera! business, but Friend should keep his special work. The crux of the position was who was to have the power to engage men. The ranger appeared to be the handiest. H ? would like to see the personal business dropped. It was the scheme they wan. ?d to get on to. Mr Stephens said the Council should instruct Friend, if Evans wan the ova by a certain date. Too much vva- being made of Evans and Friend. It was not correct to say it was Evans’s scheme. It was the Council’s scheme. Th - Council had instructed him to look out for a suitable river and he had recommended the Upuk. Mr Tapper said there had been two distinct policies; Friend wanted ova from a certain place and Evans recommended the Upuk. Someone recollected at this stage that there was nothing before th- meeting and Mr Collins asked for a ruling. No ruling was given and ith nothing before the meeting, it lapsed i:»i > a desultory discussion of an informal nature. Mr Collins left the meeting. After considerable discussion. it was unanimously resolved that the following should be the recommendations of a special meeting:— “That Evans should be appointed overseer of the Society’s operatio n at Te Anau this year subject to the fol' wing restrictions:—(l) That it be rec > nised that Curator Friend is the Society’- expert; (2) that any additional labour r iiired be arranged by Evans exceptin r as provided hereunder; (3) any additior labour for stripping and eyeing Curator Friend to arrange for same after consultation with Overseer Evans. In this connection the Council particularly wishes that amicable relations shall exist with Mr Ayson’s party and that every endeavour to co-operate with them and to obtain their ■■ /stance shall be made, also to give them every assistance; (4) Curator Friend to take his instructions from Evans regarding periods of stripping and incubation to fit in with programme of distribution. Overseer and curator to be notified that substantial bonuses will be paid to each according to the success of their respective operations. The chairman be authorised to act in conformity with these resolutions as far as necessary.”