ACCLIMATISATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16654, 20 November 1925, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION.

MEETING AT RAGLAN.

SUPPORT FOR NEW SOCIETY. For a considerable, time past there has been much dissatisfaction in regard to the control of acclimatisation affairs in the Auckland Province. Every year the number of feathered game available to sportsmen has become less and less, whilst fishermen also had serious grounds of complaint. This state of affairs has been attributed largely to mismanagement or indifference on the part of those responsible for the preservation of game and the control of game matters generally. So acute has this discontent become that after some years of ineffectual protest on the part of sportsmen, a definite move has been made to inaugurate a new governing body with headquarters nearer to the centre of the district whence the bulk of the revenue in the shape of license fees is drawn. At a recent largely attended meeting of sportsmen held in Hamilton it was resolved to secede from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society and to form a new Society for the district extending approximately from Mercer in the North to Taumarunui in the Scuth.

Recently several Hamilton gentlemen interested in the movement visited Raglan and at a representative meeting of local sportsmen held in the Town Board Buildings, explained the origin and purpose of the proposal. Mr. T. Parker presided. Mr. W. G. Wohlmann stated that the Auckland Society had commenced its career as far back as At that time, no doubt, said Mr. Wohlmann, it was fitting that the Society’s headquarters and conditions had vastly changed, for whereas at that date most of the game was found within a comparatively short distance from the city, now the bulk is obtained south of Mercer. Over three-fourths of the revenue of the Society was derived from the Southern portion of the district; comparatively little from the city itself. Yet. the very district which thus supplied the revenue had practically no representation on the. Council of the Society, and the wishes of Southern sportsmen had been constantly ignored or neglected. No fewer than four game farlv.s had been opened, each with a flourish of trumpets, and eacli in turn had' proved costly failures, and were now abandoned as game farms, leaving the Society saddled with heavy liabilities. Poaching, as everyone knew, was rampant, and this, as every sportsman knew, was inimical to the best interests of game conservation. It was only natural that the evil could not be adequately dealt with by a body functioning at such a great distance from the areas controlled. The contention of those promoting the new Society l was that those bearing the financial burden and who moreover lived in the actual game district, and knew local wants and conditions were entitled to and better qualified by reason of be-

ing on the spot to look after and manage acclimatisation affairs than those who were far removed from the game districts. The promoters were actuated by no personal motives but were influenced solely by a desire to remedy the lamentable state into which game matters had undoubtedly fallen. The new Society would be in a good financial position, for the bulk of the finance now contributed would automatically go to assist them. The districts surrounding Raglan, concluded Mr. Wohlmann, arc ideal for stocking with pheasants, whilst several of the streams in the district, if well stocked with trout, would add considerably to the attractions of the district. Mr. N. Johnson and Dr. Pinfold generally supported Mr. Wohlmann s remarks, and in particular pointed out that delegates from Raglan could, in the event of the headquarters of the new Society being in Hamilton, much more easily attend there than at Auckland. and could thereby secure bettei conditions and treatment than at present accorded them. Mr. Bray explained that the recent formation of a sub-society was in no way antagonistic to the efforts of the centlcmen responsible for the effort to create a new district. If such were formed, Raglan would undoubtedly come in with it. , After some further discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Johns, seconded by Mr. C. Husband that the meeting endorse the efforts of the promoters of the movement fetf a new Society, and assist them in e\ci> P Sib A votoof thanks to the visitors and to the chair concluded the meeting. Chronicle.