FISH AND GAME CONTROL?

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20890, 23 August 1939, Page 6

FISH AND GAME CONTROL?

Fearing that the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, intends that the Government should take control of fishing and shooting in New Zealand from the acclimatisation societies, the societies are taking steps to discover the attitude of all members to the proposal with a view to making a strong protest to the Minister. Not only the 20,000 license holders, but all the people in the Dominion are interested in the proposals, for if State control is taken it is certain that fairly substantial calls will be made upon the public funds for work that is now being performed voluntarily. Recent statements bv the Minister have left those interested in acclimatisation work convinced that he intends that the State should have control. Discussing the matter at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, a member stated that work that was now being done voluntarily would cost the State £500,000, which would fall upon the taxpayers unless much heavier license fees were levied. In some quarters it is contended that the license fee for the privilege of shooting or fishing is ridiculously small, and there is little doubt that if the State takes charge there will be a substantial increase in the fees. But if the administration work is to cost £500,000 a year it is clear that license fees alone will not provide sufficient revenue. There is another serious aspect of the matter. If license fees are increased to any great extent, fishing and shooting, already expensive enough, will become the sport of the richer people only. And it should not be forgotten that sport with rod and gun is a strong inducement to people of other lands to visit New Zealand. The tourist trade would receive a, severe check if any attempt were made to exploit visiting sportsmen with expensive licenses. At the present time hundreds of voluntary workers are performing a useful service to the country, and the government should be extremely careful in interfering. If voluntary workers were to be replaced with paid men and the State to become the sole authority in charge of game and fish, a different spirit would enter into the sport and poaching would almost certainly increase. The Government would do well to encourage the acclimatisation societies and give them additional powers rather than attempt to regiment the sport under the control of a department of State.