FISHING LICENSES

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 8

FISHING LICENSES

PROPOSED INCREASE IN COST.

ANGLERS’ OPPOSITION.

Strong opposition to the proposal to increase the cost of fishing licenses from £1 to £1 5/- to cover the cost of research was expressed in two letters considered by the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last evening. In one instance doubt of the value of the Research Committee’s work was expressed. ' The letters were as follows:

From the Lumsden Angling Club.— “At a largely attended meeting of the Lumsden Angling Club it was unanimously decided that I should write to your society vigorously protesting against the proposed increase in the cost of angling licenses. We do not think it right that the increase should have been sanctioned and we strongly resent this 25 per cent, increase, more especially when it is proposed that it should go towards the funds of the Fresh Water -Research Committee, which, we think, has done nothing practical during its term to justify its existence.”

From the Gore _ Angling Society.— “At a special meeting of the Gore District Angling Society I was instructed to write to you in connection with the proposal to increase the license fee to 25/-. Our club and the general body of ■ anglers in the Gore district are strongly opposed to any increase. The feeling of my executive is so strong in this matter that we have written to our local member of Parliament, Mr D. McDougall, who is the patron of our club, asking him to interview the Minister of Internal Affairs in connection with the matter. We would be glad if you would advise us as to the attitude of your council in this matter and the instructions to your delegates at the recent conference of societies at which the recommendation for the increase was made. We are of the opinion that if a vote were taken from the general body of anglers throughout Southland there would be a heavy majority against the proposal. It appears to us that there is a danger of the increase being rushed through without any information being given to the angling fraternity in general as to the necessity for it and as to the allocation of the additional funds.” The president (Mr James Robertson) said he had stated his willingness to go to Gore to discuss the matter. He did not propose to discuss the merits or demerits there. Mr C. W. Wilson said it was a matter of explanation. They had all been opposed to it till hearing the explanation. The president said he might be doing the Lumsden Club an injustice, but he doubted if it had read the literature issued regarding research. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford said that if a meeting were held at Gore the Lumsden members should be invited. The rumours going around should- be refuted before harm was done. Mr Eustace Russell advocated the fixing of the amount at 22/6. There was a better chance of getting that through the House, he said. Something required to be done to get an assured revenue. The committee had been working under dreadful conditions. It was decided that the president, Mr Russell, Mr J. D. Speirs, Dr Crawford and the secretary (Mr D. Cuthbertson) should travel to Gore to meet Gore and Lumsden anglers regarding the matter.