CLOSE SEASON FOR CAME.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12766, 7 February 1910, Page 2

CLOSE SEASON FOR CAME.

FARMERS AND SPORTSMEN PROTEST. PLENTITUDE OF QUAIL. At the Anglers' Club room on Friday evening a meeting of shooting license holders, sportsmen, and others interested, ivas held to consider the question of the first triennial close season for native and unprotected game, as provided by the Animals Protection Act, 1908, clause 26, which takes place this year. The meeting was convened by the council of the Acclimatisation Society and about thirty persons were present. Mr 0. \V. Hanby, chairman of the Society^ was voted to the chair. The object of the meeting was to make representations to the Minister for the Interior that the only protected imported native game, in this district was quail, which this year were very numerous, and threatened to become a pest to farmers, and asking him to secure a postponement of the close- season, in order to gain time to have the Act amended and made more elastic with regard to the protection or otherwise of game. Clause 26 of the Anjmals Protection Act provided a triennial close season for native and imported game other than deer, beginning with 1910, but the Acclimatisation. Societies were enabled to take advantage of the proviso "that on petition by any Acclimatisation Society, the district under the control of such society may be, exempted from the operation of this section, wholly or in part, and either as relates to native game or both, as the case may be." A deputation had waited on the Minister of Commerce when Mr Mackenzie was here, and another, representing Nelson and. Marlborough, had also waited on Mr Buddo, whose Department, administers the Animals Protection Act, • After discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr J. Pollock., seconded by Dr Gibbs, "That the Nelson Acclimatisation Society be requested by, this meeting of sportsmen and farmers to petition the Minister, of Internal Affairs for an exemption of a close season for imported game for this district, as provided in the second provision to clause 26 of Teh Animals Protection Act, 1908. That the foregoing resolution is supported by the following reasons : — • (1) Quail are more numerous than for years past, anil are steadily : n« creasing, and are .liable.to become a source of loss .to, farmers, especially on new bush clearings, by eating grass ; and clover seeds. . (2) Unless the inqrease is checked by legitimate . means,. .the, Society will find great difficulty in preventing the j! farmers from destroying them ;by poi- ! son and trapping. i ; (3) That the. only imported game >'n this district are quail. and hares; tho ■latter have been .so numerous "that the '.protection was removed , many years ; ago in spite of. which tHey have steadily increased, and are practically the jonly. imported, game under the schedule in jfche.district for the; recreation of sportsmen.* . ." "" | (4.) That native game is scarce, and ; we heartily desire to co-operate with, the Minister in affording them every protection. .••■•■ The meeting terminated with a hearty, vote of .thanta 1 to the chair. CLOSE SEASON FOR QUAIL.