NO SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 6

NO SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF ACCLIMATIZATION CONFIDENCE IN SOUTHLAND SOCIETY

“I do not think the Government can carry on the work any better than the acclimatization societies,” stated the president, .Mr D. Wishart, at the annual meeting of the Southland Anglers’ Club last night when referring to the reported intention of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) to submit to the Cabinet a proposal that acclimatization in New Zealand be placed under the control of the Government. During the evening several arguments against the Government’s proposal were advanced and a motion was carried expressing confidence in the ability of the Southland Acclimatization Society to carry on its work in this district. “The present administration of acclimatization is costing the Government nothing; in fact it receives 2/6 from all licences sold,” Mr Wishart said. If the Government were to take over control they certainly would not get any better fishing in Southland, which was known to provide fishing as good as that anywhere else in New Zealand. The same remark applied to shooting. In the event of the proposal coming to fruition the Government would probably set up a central office in Wellington with the result that there would be many delays in answers to complaints. Local knowledge had assisted the so-ci-ties considerably, but if acclimatization affairs were taken over much of this knowledge would be lost. Mr G. Hoffman said that if the Government took over control Southland would probably not receive the same consideration. The present system of control by acclimatization societies was quite satisfactory.

It was stated that the Government might trap some of the best rivers in Southland to obtain spawn for the North Island and thus spoil the rivers.