TAUPO FISHING RIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 9

TAUPO FISHING RIGHTS

THE MINISTER'S WARNING INTERFERENCE BY NATIVES. ENFORCEMENT OF THE ACT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, in a statement to-night concerning the trouble with the natives at Taupo over fishing rights, said that the interests of die natives had been closely watched by the Government, and he was pleased to say that not only were the majority of the Maoris complying with the terms of the agreement and legislation passed, but also many cf them were rendering valuable assistance in carrying the Act into force. “Those natives,” continued Mr. Bollard, “have shown a fine spirit, but I regret, however, that a few of them still fail to recognise that an honourable agreement was entered into, and that by interfering with anglers, they are committing a breach of the law and are liable to the penalties provided. “I take this opportunity of stating that the Government has taken unusual pains to explain the jiosition fully, and that in the interests, both of the anglers and of the natives, it ie intended to enforce the law strictly and any natives from now onwards found interfering with fishermen in breach of the law will be prosecuted. “I hope it will not become necessary for the Government to take extreme measures and that natives who have been interfering with anglers will realise that it is in their own interests not to interfere, and will allow anglers to flsh in the Taupo district fisheries without further molestation. I should not like to see prosecutions take place.”