President Replies to Critics of Commission’s Report

Forest and Bird, Issue 171, 1 February 1969, Page 7

President Replies to Critics of Commission’s Report

SHORTLY after the issue of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Organisation of Wildlife Management and Research in New Zealand criticism of the commission’s recommendations was made in the Press by spokesmen for the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association and the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The President of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Mr R. C. Nelson, replied to this criticism and supported the recommendations. His statement was as follows: “On 20 December 1967 a deputation waited on the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall). The deputation consisted of 11 representatives of angling, shooting, and conservation organisations, having the support of up to 100 kindred organisations throughout New Zealand. Dissatisfaction with Existing System “It expressed its complete dissatisfaction with the existing system of wildlife management and control, and requested that an impartial committee be set up to carry out a thorough investigation. “Mr Marshall promised earnest consideration, and subsequently a committee was appointed, later being given status as a commission.

“It consisted of Mr J. K. Hunn (chairman), one of the most capable Departmental administrators the country has ever had, Dr R. K. Dell, director of the Dominion Museum, and Mr Roland Stead, a farmer with wide knowledge of acclimatisation society activities, and a member of a family well known in nature-study circles. . “The Commission called for submissions and sat at Wellington, Rotorua, and Christchurch between 12 June and 17 September, taking evidence at public hearings on 22 days. Members visited 22 field and research stations, and submissions were received from 116 societies, universities, boards, Departments of State, and individuals. Valuable Document “The 200-page report of the Commission is the result of months of painstaking investigation and deliberations; it is a valuable document. It does not recommend that all acclimatisation societies be abolished. It does recommend that they be renamed Fish and Game Societies, indicating their correct function, and* that their present responsibilities by Statute be undertaken by a National Wildlife Commissionthese responsibilities being mainly the protection and preservation of absolutely ■ protected wildlife, responsibilities which obviously should be carried out by a Department of State.”