District Shooting And Fishing Clubs Unite

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 9, 18 October 1950, Page 4

District Shooting And Fishing Clubs Unite

Thirty-one delegates from all - Fishing and Shooting Clubs in the Rotorua-Taupo Internal Affairs Department Area met on Saturday, at “Huka Lodge,” Taupo, to consider the formation of a Federation of the clubs. Organisations represented at the meeting were:—

Rotorua Anglers’ Association (convenors), Taupo Launcamens’ Association, Lake Taupo District Anglers’ Association, Tongariro Anglers’ Club, Rotorua Rod anti Gun Club, Waitahanui Anglers’ Association, Taupo Rod and Gun Club, Whakatane County Rod and Gun Club, Ngongotaha Rod and Gun Club.

The meeting had been convened by the Rotorua Anglers’ Association whose president, Mr A. \E. Missen took the chair. He briefly welcomed delegates and referred to the advantages which would be derived by both the Clubs and the Department of Internal Affairs if all negotiations could be conducted through one body.'

A formal motion that a Federation be formed was then moved and carried with enthusiasm.

When the meeting moved on to the next, item on the.agenda, sortie delegates reported that they were present to observe and take part in discussions but to report back to their clubs without voting. Consequently it was agreed that votes taken would be regarded as indicating only the personal opinions' of those present. After Mr S. Milligan had stated that the Npw Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association already had a large organisation which had mutually satisfactory relations with Government Departments and would therefore probably not wish any change in its methods of negotiating, it was decided that the name of the Federation should be “The Rotorua and Taupo Districts Fishing and* Shooting Federation.” All present were in agreement as to the objects of the Federation and a discussion as to the way in which these were to be stated resulted in the meeting unanimously carrying a motion that: “The objects of the Federation be ‘To enable the affiliated clubs to co-oper-ate with the Department of Internail Affairs, to place before the Minister and Officers of the Department such matters of general interest to fishing and shooting in the district as shall be decided on from time to time by the Federation, and to further the interests of the Federated Clubs in every way possible.”

The limited authority of some delegates resulted in a decision not to elect officers of the Federation at the meeting, but it was decided unanimously that the Federation should be governed by a Council consisting of a patron, president, two vice-presidents, an honorary secretary-treasurer and two members from each affiliated club.

Mr* Missen, Rotorua Anglers’ Club,* was elected to act as president until the next meeting, and. Mr H. A. Bright, Secretary of the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club, was appointed acting secretary-treasurer. The acting president and secretary were instructed to draw up a draft constitution and rules.