STATE PROPOSAL OPPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 25545, 13 December 1944, Page 4

STATE PROPOSAL OPPOSED

Control Of Fish And Game MEMBERS OF SOCIETY A unanimous decision to oppose the proposal of the Government to extend the control of the Department of Internal Affairs in a lake district that would embrace part of the Southland area was made at a special general meeting of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. The meeting passed several resolutions and outlined its reasons for its opposition to the proposal. Mr James Robertson was chairman. About 30 members att ? nded ;. The following motion, moved by tne chairman and seconded by Mr W. Excell, president of the Ohai Anglers Club, was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of members of the Southland Acclimatization Society oppose by every constitutional means the proposal of the Department of Internal Affairs to take over a portion of the Southland district for the following reasons: , , “(1) That the district is at present efficiently and economically administered by a council which has extensive personal and local knowledge of the problems concerned; (2) that the success and approval of the present control is shown by the postal vote of licence-holders concerned, 1282 votes having been received in favour of the society retaining control and 50 votes in favour of control by the department; (3) that the society will continue its efforts to improve the sporting facilities of both local and visting sportsmen; (4) that the local society has always supported research and at present has under consideration a proposal to constitute a scientific advisory body to act in an advisory capacity for all acclimatization societies; (5) that even during the war years the society has maintained two rangers and that when the war is over and petrol is available more rangers will be employed; (6) that the destruction of eels, shags and other vermin and the prevention of pollution have always been in the forefront of the society’s work; (7) that all the facilities for sportsmen have been provided for low licence fees, it being recognized that fishing and shooting are very largely the sport of the working man.” SUPPORT SOUGHT

It was also decided to approach all local bodies and other interested bodies in Southland, and point out that the matter was a provincial one and ask for support. The meeting also decided to support the council of the society in making any representations it thought desirable to the Minister of Internal Affairs. (Mr Parry), either directly or in conjunction with the Otago Society or the council of the South Island Acclimatization Societies, and that further steps in the matter be left to the council of the society. Another resolution was carried approving the motion carried at the meeting of Otago and Southland delegates at Dunedin. This resolution was that as the Lakes District Acclimatization Society wished to give up control of acclimatization in that area the meeting of delegates of the Otago and Southland societies suggested for the consideration of the Minister that the Otago and Southland societies take over all acclimatization activities in the Lakes district—the boundaries to be mutually agreed upon. The four Southland members of Parliament will be advised of the result of the meeting and asked for their support. Mr Robertson said he was disappointed that the attendance was not larger. However, it was a wet night and a bad time of the year for meetings. He outlined the proposal of the Government, described the meeting ' with Major G. F. Yerex, of the Department of Internal Affairs, and the action taken by the council. He said that the result of the postal ballot was interesting. It strongly supported the council’s attitude to oppose the proposal. A total of 2351 voting papers had been issued and 1345 had been returned. Of these 1282 were against the proposal, 50 were for it and 13 were informal. This represented a vote of about 26 to one against the proposal. VITAL PART OF DISTRICT Their main concern was Te Anau, Mr Robertson said. Te Anau was one of the most vital parts of the society’s district; it had its hatchery there. Major Yerex had outlined the advantages of departmental control, but he had not been impressed. Mr S. M. Macalister said it had been admitted that the society was doing a good job. He maintained that the department could not do any better. Control by the department was not necessary, and if it was not necessary it was dangerous. During a long discussion it was pointed out that the Southland Society had for years urged the Lakes Society to link up with the Otago and Southland societies, but it had refused to do so. It was felt that in dealing directly with the Government the Lakes Society had been unfair. One member said that if the Government proposal was put into operation Southland would be left with a handful of territory. Centralization of control in Wellington was not wanted. The Southland Society had administered its affairs faithfully and well and this had resulted in the fine sporting facilities that were available at the present time.