HONORARY RANGERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 41, 21 September 1949, Page 4

HONORARY RANGERS

— Sir, —Mr J. D. Rivett, President of the Whakatane County Rod and Gun Club, quoted to the club's annual meeting a reply the club had received from the Conservator of Wild Life, Rotorua, commenting on the work of honorary rangers up to two years ago 167 of whom reported no case in 20 years. Mr Rivett, commenting on the Conservator’s remarks, said Honorary Rangers did not seem active as regards catching wrong doers. Now the Taneatua Rod and Gun j Club (now defunct) had an honor-\ ary ranger, a very active one at that, and for public interest I will quote two or three episodes in which this gentleman showed much activity. (The writer here quotes two cases in which he claims the activities of the honorary ranger led to the discovery and punishment ox people who were not. “playing tne game.”) The Club then decided to appoint an honorary ranger to report poaching in the Urewera Country. The result was that three poachers were heavily fined for shooting game out. of season. These eases have all happened inside the last 20 years.

To comment on the report as regards rangers as it appeared in print: It has occurred often when attempting to ' convey discredit to writers and orators alike use phrases that when uncovered have a double-barrelled meaning or object and it is quite apparent, in Mr Rivet’s comments as regards honorary rangers it looked as if one barrel "•>, had been fired at the newly-formed Taneatua Rangers Rod and Gun Club. Anyway, the smell of powder and smoke drifted that Way. Allow me to inform Mr Rivett that the Conservator of Wild Life quoting 167 honorary rangers 2 years ago may be quite correct, as all license holders both fishing and shooting are honorary rangers by virtue of such licenses. Mention of this was carefully avoided. Members of the Taneatua Rangers Rod and Gun Club are all honorary rangers whether they buy a license or not. They undertake the work in the interest of sport- now and days to come. Taneatua has through time harboured some of the finest and most loyal sports in the Dominion and we now have amongst us young men, sons of those good old sports, willing and ready to follow their footsteps. Those are our honorary rangers. We have many, and as well some of the old sports to give advice and a push along. It is quis£inappropriate to pay special to our patron for his handsome donation. Furthermore, his name at the head of any sport will always gather support and loyalty. With him and other officials The Taneatua Rangers Rod and Gun Club is here to stay. No members will uproot its foundation for the shadow of higher office.

Yours etc., W. H. SEMMENS, President, Taneatua Rangers Rod

and Gun Club