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with a Dunedin firm, consignments of eels were forwarded for canning, bnt owing to the distance from the cannery and the high temperatures prevailing it was found that utilization in this manner was impracticable. (e) Ranging. —ln conjunction with their other duties, officers of the Department carried out the maximum possible amount of patrol work. Two breaches of the regulations resulted in prosecutions. (3) Absolutely Protected Birds Interesting data has been compiled from officers' reports, indicating that many species are holding their own. The South Island robin is recorded as being plentiful in the Eglinton and Dart Valleys, while rock wrens were reported from the Hunter Valley. (4) Game-shooting The sum of £214 was received from the sale of game-shooting licences. Twenty-nine complimentary licences were issued to returned servicemen. One breach of the regulations resulted in a conviction, a fine of £5 being imposed. (5) Vermin Control Bounties payable under the scheme operated by the South Island Vermin Control Board were paid on tokens as under : Stoats' tails .. .. .. .. .. 1,854 Ferrets'tails .. .. .. ..1,968 Polecats' tails .. .. . . .. .. 69 Hedgehog snouts .. .. .. .: 741 Hawks' feet (pairs) . . .. . . .. 1,723 German owls' heads .. .. .. .. 169 F. Inter-departmental Committee on River Pollution Following on representations as to the pollution danger to streams and rivers arising from the increasing population and the industrial development of the country, the Committee was reconvened. The Committee, which is widely representative of Government Departments, has held three meetings during the year. As a preliminary step a subcommittee has been set up to compile a report of the factual evidence available at present as to pollution of tidal and fresh waters throughout New Zealand. An officer, whose services have been made available by the Marine Department, has commenced this work under the subcommittee's direction, and good progress has been made in collating the extensive data on record in the various Departments. In addition, a short questionnaire was prepared and circulated, to all Borough and County Councils and Harbour Boards by courtesy of their respective associations, also to acclimatization societies, throughout the country. Much valuable information is coming to hand from these sources. VI. PATRIOTIC PURPOSES Expenditure for the financial year ended 30th September, 1946, showed a sharp fall on that of the four previous years. This was to be expected with the repatriation of overseas-service personnel and the return to civilian life of large numbers of servicemen and servicewomen who had been attached to the Armed Forces in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the National Patriotic Fund Board was called upon to provide welfare in the United Kingdom, Middle East, India, Australia, Fiji, and Norfolk Island, as well as in New Zealand. The New Zealand Force of Occupation for Japan, draw substantially from the Middle East; took with it —when it left the Middle East in 1946—a fully equipped

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