NATIVE GAME LICENCES

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 6

NATIVE GAME LICENCES

OTAGO ADHERES TO DECISION The Otago Acclimatization Society’s decision to charge £1 next year for native game licences which would not be interchangeable with those of any other society was discussed at the monthly meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. Mr Eustace Russell reported that the Otago society was inexorable in its decision to make a charge of £1 for native game licences. “Otago is not going to shift in its attitude,” Mr Russell added, “and we will have either to increase our fee to £l, or if members shoot in Otago they will have to take out an extra licence.”

Mr G. F. Strang remarked that sportsmen would be inclined to take out a £1 licence in Otago and shoot in Southland.

Mr Russell said only a small percentage of sportsmen would go into Otago to shoot. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford: I absolutely oppose any increase. The game shooting here does not justify it and we would have a “donnybrook” among shooting men. Dr Crawford suggested that the council should reaffirm the principle of charging 10/- for shooting licences, but no further action was taken. The meeting was attended by Messrs S. M. Macalister (president), J. Robertson, J. D. Speirs, Eustace Russell, G. F. Strang, J. N. Armour, G. Hoffman, J. W. Aitken, A. Hamilton, D. Wishart, M. Royds and Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford.