FISH AND GAME CONTROL

Southland Times, Issue 25547, 15 December 1944, Page 5

FISH AND GAME CONTROL

ACTION OF LAKES SOCIETY 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 discussed at a meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last evening. It was decided to write to the secretary of the Council of South Island Acclimatization Societies asking the council to get in touch with the Lakes District Acclimatization Society and ask why it had handed over control without referring the matter to the South Island council at the conference in September.

A report on proposals for co-ordin-ated research in and administration of wild life control by Mr Gilbert Archey, Director of the Auckland Museum, was received. The question was left to the delegates to the conference of North and South Island Societies in Wellington in February. Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., wrote enclosing a reply to representations he had made about rabbits on Stewart Island to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Roberts). The Minister advised that everything possible was being done in an endeavour to exterminate the rabbits still in the island. An experienced rabbiter had gone to the island on October 27 to follow up the work done and he would stay there for at least three months. Arrangements were also being made for the ranger of the Internal Affairs Department to devote his time to the extermination of the rabbits. SHOOTING SEASON It was reported that a recommendation had been sent to the Department of Internal Affairs. The season for mallard duck, grey duck, spoonbill duck, pukeko and black swan should open on May 5, 1945, and extend to May 27. The same dates will apply to paradise duck (except in the area west and south of the railway line from Bluff to Riverton.) No person will take or kill more than 15 head in all of mallard duck, grey duck, spoonbill duck and paradise duck, five head of paradise duck, or 10 head of pukeko. No limit is to be imposed on black swan. Those present were:—Mr J. Robertson (president), Drs Ritchie Crawford and G. B. Orbell, and Messrs J. N. Armour, J. W. Aitken, R. Allison, C. Blomfield, J. C. Broad, A. G. Fraser, f’ B. Henderson, M. A. Reidy, G. Hoffman, E. G. Luzmoor, S. M. Macalister, W. McKenzie, J. B. Pasco, E. Russell’ A. Walker, J. M. Watson and D. Wishart.