FISHING AT TAUPO.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 8

FISHING AT TAUPO.

——« MAORI INTERFERENCE. PROSECUTIONS THREATENED. [THE PRESS Bj*cUl Serrlee.] • AUCKLAND, January 6.

An arrangement was made last year between the Government and the Natives of the Taupo district that in consideration of the payment of £3OOO a year to the Tuwharetoa Trust Board for the benefit of the Natives concerned, in addition to 50 per cent, of any revenue that may be received from fishing licenses over and above the sum of £3OOO, the Natives were to relinquish their rights over certain of the fishing areas. Legislation was passed by Parliament to give' effect to the agreement. However, according to a statement made by the Hon. Mr Bollard on his arrival in Auckland from Botorua, this evening, certain of the Natives are not honouring the'agreement. They are still interfering with anglers and preventing them from fishing along the chain strip on either side of the Waitahanui stream as provided for in the Act. The Minister said the interests of the Natives had been closely watched by the Government and he was pleased to say that not only were a majority of the Maoris complying with tie terms of the agreement and the legislation passed but also many of them were rendering valuable assistance in carrying the Act into force.

"Those Natives,'' continued Mr Bollard, "have shown a fine spirit, but I regret that a few of them still fail to recognise- that an honourable agreement was entered into and that by interfering with anglers they are commiting a breach of the law and are liable to the penalties provided. "I take this opportunity of stating that the Government has taken unusual pains to explain the position fully and that in the interests both of anglers and of the Natives it is intended to enforce the law strictly, and any natives from now onwards found interfering with fishermen in breach of the law will be prosecuted. I hope it will not become necessary for the Government to take extreme measures and that the natives who have been interfering with anglers will realise it is in their own interests not to interfere, and will allow anglers to fish in the Taupo district fisheries without further molestation."