PUBLICITY CASE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 30, Issue 9, 7 December 1945, Page 4

PUBLICITY CASE

UNLICENSED TROUT FISHERMAN QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP An interesting legal point was raised at the sitting of Whe Whakatane Magistrate's Court last luesday when David Frost was prosecuted by the Conservator oi tish and Game lor fishing in the Wha r katane River at Ruatoki without the requisite license. Frost claimed that lie was fishing on the property of hi.s employee who had given him the necessary permission. It was held successfully that his employer had 110 such right and that though he himself could fish lor trouit from his own property he could not transfer such privilege to any other person . Ranger K. E. Francis said tli'at on November 4 he accosted defendant who was fishing from the banks at Ruatoki. He admitted lie had no license and claimed that he did not need one since he was on his employer's, property from whom he. had obtained permission. Witness said that the river, due to erosion flowed completely through the property. The Conservator Mr Keen, s-tatcd that though the offence was ncrtt regarded as it had been brought in order to give publicity to the fact that under the Game Act, owners, of properties were per,mitUed to give .sportsmen the right to shoot over their land, but under the Fisheries Act they had no such power and though they themselves were empowered to fish for trout they could ndr delegate that right to others. Defendant was lined- £2 and costs 15s the minimum under the Act.

Spring 0 for 8; Gillam 0 lor 1; Crawford 0 for 1; Clcland 0 for 2.