STATE CONTROL?

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 8

STATE CONTROL?

FISHING AND BHOOTINQ SOCIETIES TO PROTEST (Special to Times) PUTAIRURU. Monday That it appeared definite that it was the intention of fhe Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to take over control of fishing and shooting in New Zealand was an opinion expressed by Mr F. E. McKenzie, president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, at a meet.ng of the council in Putaruru on Saturday night. He said that unless sportsmen united in their protest they would shortly find themselves under State control. He urged all subsocieties to hold meetings or in some other way to gain the opinion of the general body of license-holders as to whether they preferred the sport to be run under the present alministration or under State control. "There are about 20,000 licenseholders who will be affected," Mr McKenzie stated. "If these 20,000 do not want a change, then what is the State that it should make such a change ?” Division Favoured Mr McKenzie questioned whether the Minister had sufficient finance to carry out the work now being done by the societies. It was questionable also whether the Minister had the full support of the Cabinet in his plan. The ideal organisation for the North Island was a division into five societies—North Auckland, Auckland (including Tauranga and Waimarino . Taranaki and Wanganui. Wellington and Hawke's Bay, up to Cape Runaway. What the council representing these five societies decided was a matter of policy and should be the basis of any adopted legislation. Mr H. C. Savage (Auckland) said it was apparently the intention of the principal officers of the Department of Internal Affairs to take away from the societies all their present control. This would require expenditure amounting to £500,000, whereas the work was now being done voluntarily. Ratepayers would have to pay this sum or it would fall upon the licenseholders in the form of heavier license fees. Conference Being Arranged It was stated that a conference with the Minister was being arranged for September, and, in the meantime, it was left for each sub-society to obtain the feeling- of its members and, if possible, have a petition signed for strengthening the hand of the North Island council when meeting the Minister. Mr McKenzie observed in conclusion that the position of the socioties was in serious jeopardy in view of the recent statements by the Minister.