ACCLIMATISATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. The sixth-annual conference of tho Now Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association was held at tho Oddfellows' Hall yesterday. The chair was occupied by the president, 31 r. L. 0. H. Tripp, and there were also present Messrs. P. H. Cox and J. S., Tennant(Ashburton),.E. W. Pay ton and A. M'Cosh Clark. (Auckland), C. E. Major, M.P. (Buller and Hawera), Dr. Moorhouso and G. B. Ritchie (Christchurch), A J. Rutherfurd (Hawke's Bay arid Wellington), W. Pollard (Marlborough), R. Chisholm and C. Turnbull (Otago),. Dr. Ross (South Canterbury), J. : . Arthur Jones (Stratford),. L. J. Reid (Taranaki), F. ,T. B. Walker (Waimate), E. N;. Liffiton (Wanganui), J. J. Devine (Wellington), \A.' F.> Lowe (Westland),. W. A. Sandiland (Foilding), and 0. W. Hanby (Nelson). CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH. ' -In moving-the-adoption-of- the annual report and balance-sheet, already .published, the' chairman said: ''The-Government have passed the Animals' Protection Act, which was introduced by Sir Joseph Ward two years ago. . It is practically the same as when it | passed the Council' last year. It is better as a consolidated ■ measure and most useful to-us, arid instead of having a main Act and amendments,-wo .have one Act. I mentioned last' year that tho. Government have set aside certain islands as sanctuaries for native birds. Tho" Government have set aside a portion of Kapiti; and some other islands, but ;I think, the Government should acquire the, whole of Kapiti and buy out the Native owners. (Hear, hear.) I think tile . Government, should set aside, moro areas of native bush as scenic reserves, and havo them declared sanctuaries for native birds only; By this means, it' is hoped to, preserve'the nativo birds of this country. Last season was a very dry one, and I am sorry to say that-in many parts of the 1 country, the creeks and rivers dried up, and there was a great destmotioh of 'fish, but on the other hand tho season was-a, good one for our feathered tribe, and native arid other .game, and I• am glad to, say that: reports have come to mo from various parts of the district that quail have increased in very largo numbers, and'pheasants have increased also. The Wellington Socioty is doing its best to keep up 'the !game,;and wo have.a practical: man' at Parapa'raumu. Wo have' also been ablo to breed a considerable''nuhiber of Mallard ducks.- They wero easy to breed, and had much better chances than pheasants, or quail, and. were not dostroyed by stoats, weasels, hawks, or rats." , On the subject of deer,-Mr. Tripp said: " Some red deer from the Warnham Park herd are at Paraparaumu. Wb have pur--chased - tw r o stags and four hinds and four more hinds-are coming. It was hopcd_ to' build up.a'stud herd of deer with the object' of sending out. tho stud animals from timo to time to other districts to ..havo a chahgo of blood. I notice'that in Otago there aro" u.great number of ; malforms." ' There were,• hu continued,' vory few •in the 'Wellington district, and lie was glad to say that sportsmen wore killing • thom. . The Scotch deer, , were 'the best in' the world, and ho would like to' see. a stud established. : The introduction of quinnat salmon eggs had "apparently been successful, although ho understood that -they' "wero not- absolutely established. ■ At any rato, th'ey had,, been brod in fish ponds, gono to soa/ and returned, to 'spawn. Thore : was no • reason why ■ t'hoy should not be as successful with the Atlantic salmon. •' ■ "The ' speaker touched' upon the excessive slaughter of the beginning of.-the season. Somo, ho said) shot as many as 200 or 300 ducks,'and this was a thing that ought to bo stopped. . Thoy must always remember .that it'was the duty of the society not-'only to find birds to shoot, but also to preserve, them for those who camo aftor. He. thought the latter tlie more important duty. (Applause.) , . Several -delegates spoke, and tho inotion was carried. . '\ . ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers wero elected:—Pre- : siderit, Mr. L. iO';, H. -Trippvice-president, Mr.-:C. Fitzroy; treasurer, Mr. ; L. J. Reid; secretary, Mr. N. Von Sturmer; auditor,' Mr. G. B. Hull; council, Messrs. E. W. Payton (Auckland),- F. Earl (Auckland), Dr., Moorhouso . (Canterbury),: R. Chisholm (Otago), R; Forrest' (Otago), J. Arthur Jones, (Stratford), J. Rutherford South Canterbury); E. N.' Liffitpn'-(Wanganui), W- Symes, M:P. (Taranaki), Hon. H. Feldwick '(Southland).- ' : -• • •-■ • ' , GAME REGULATIONS. . ■ Mr. ; Payton 1 moved'' That tho proposed onforcomerit of U close season every three years .for''both native and ; imported game will seriously lessen-the incoino of, most oftho societies, and the same timo greatly increase their expenditure, so far as rangers' salarios, otc., aro' concerned. Under such circumstances it appears only fair that Government aid should be solicited for the purposes of covering a portion of the increased cost." ; Aftor discussion, tho motion was lost. Mr.. Payton also 'moved That it be considered how-far it is desirable to establish short period game licenses, say for a week or fortnight, and, if so, what foes should be charged." • . The motion was not seconded, and it lapsed. Mr. Payton, moved" That tho society, •urge upon tho Government that tho annual notification' respecting the gaino' season should, appear at least,a month before tho 1 commencement of' the season, and that licenses should be available for salo a fortnight or three weeks .before tho season. Also, that in addition to the sale of licenses at the various Post. Offices each Acclimatisation Society should have tho right of issuing them in its own district." It was.stated that :last year the licenses had been very late. , It was decided to bring thi? mattor under the notice of the Government, but'the. motion was withdrawn. , Mr. Chisholm moved: .'.'That the protection afforded to seagulls be removed." • This was withdrawn, as tho question was one of local jurisdiction. Mr. Reid w;as to niovo the following:— "That the number of birds to be shot, particularly ducks, be limited in the same-way as the number of trout is limited," but as -it: came iindor:tho same category.'as tho last motion, ho withdrew'it, • ' .. .Tho, same applied, to'; the following. recommendation:—"That the licenso fee to sliobt hares in the Southland Acclimatisation District be reduced to ten shillings." Dr. Moorhouso'moved—"That a gun license be enforced." \ ; He .emphasised tho necessity of persistingvin this matter. ;; j Mr. Liffiton, pointed out • the difficulties in the' Wax as regarding : bushmen, arid Mr. Pollard made i reference to tho ' dostruction: of rabbits. ■ ' The motion was.lost by 10 to 5. Dr. Sloorhouso.moved: "That,the question of monoys paid by residents'in :ono acclimatisation district' to another • society bo forwarded with a viow-'of having such moneys paid to the society .in which the licensed resides." The-mover mentioned that considerable difficulty had been experienced over this. He complained that his district had been canvassed by tho representative of another district. . . The motion was lost. Mr. Walker moved: "That the Government be requested to removo the restrictions: on the importation :fif Stubble quail .into the Dominion." Stubble quail wore; ho said, very prolific; They did :no harm :to tho crops, but frequented swamp lands. Tho motion was carried. •. ' ' DEER-STALKING., Mr. Hanby moved: "That as certain parts of the Nelson district are difficult t'o stalk without dogs, the regulation be amended and tho disability removed." The mover said that caro would be taken whero sheep wero about. ■ , . ~ Tho remit met with decidedopposition from' Mr. ".Liffiton, who said that in Scotland, dogs wero ■ used, but they wero held in leash, and to hunt with dogs was outrageous. Mr. Hauby: There, seems to be a wrong impression. I mean the ' dogs to round them I. up, not to hunt them..

A delegate: I don't see where the stalking comes in. ■ 'J'lio motion was lost. 1 Mr. Cox moved : "That a clause bo inserted in all future leases of hill country rims, where doer are, giving right of entry on such lands to duly licensed deer-stalkers." A number of leases, he explained, were falling in in about threo years' time, and the opportunity should be availed of. ' Mr. Liffiton: It must be prejudicial to 1 thoso who grazo sheep. The Chairman said that if this proposal became law, people would tako good caro that deer on their estates woro killed. It would bo too much to ask tlio insertion of such a clause in every lease. Mr. Cox agree/1 to add tho word "numerous" after "are." The motion was put and lost. OTHER' MATTERS. Mr. Payton drew attention to the danger arising from the indiscriminate u'so of riUes ■for duck-shooting on the opening day of the season, when, in some districts (tho lower Waikato, for instance),, shooting parties are often stationed in close proximity to ono another; also the disturbance of gamo caused by the growing practice of sending parties up several days before tho commencement of the season .for the, purpose of erecting shelter sheds, broakwinds, etc. Tho Chairman: If we find that the matter can bo' dealt with by regulation we will let you know. .. ■ ; Dr. R,oss. moved that tho restriction on the shooting of Paradise ducks be removed.. He said that the birds wore exceedingly numerous, and very destructive. The Chairman: The matter can bo referred to tho Colonial Secretary., . . . Speaking for tho. Southland Society, Mr. Reid moved as follows:—"It having been reported that it was proposed to widen the •scope of the netting operations, this society is strongly averso to any regulations being made in that direction." The motion was carried. Dr. Moorho'use moved: "That posts'bo placed at the mouths jof rivers and Lake Ellesmere to indicate tho limit at which notting can take place." After tlio motion was amended to read, "that posts be placed by the Government at tho mouths of all rivers, estuaries, sea-outlets, and Lake Ellesmere to indicate the limit at which netting is allowed to take place," it was adopted. A remit to tho effect that societies should be allowed to. fix thoir o\vn license fees was lost. •. : A long discussion took placo on tlio proposal that in all leases of Crown lands in or on river beds tho right bo reserved to anglers and sportsmen to ontor I thereon for tho purposo of fishing and shooting (except in lambing season). , Tho motion was lost. Mr. Reid moved: "That united effort bo mado to influence the Government to make proper and necessary regulations to prevent tho wholosale netting of trout'at tho mouths of rivers." The remit- was adopted, with tho addition that spccial streets was to be laid on tho spawning season, May, June, July, and August. , Dr. Moorhouso moved: "That in tho opinion, of the Conference a strong and systematic attempt should bo made to acclimatise Atlantic salmon (salmon salar) in New Zealand waters, and tlio Conference earnestly asks tho Government to put a sum of money on the Supplementary Estimates for this purpose." He said that tho California salmon which the ; Government had been importing, 'were useless. to' anglers, as they would not take bait in fresh water, and notting would have to bo resorted to. , v ' The Minister for Internal Affairs submitted the draft of the regulation concerning the regulations under tho new Act, and a subcommittee, of tho chairman, and Messrs. Reid, and Dovine, was appointed to go into tho matter. It was dccided to obtain English minnows for tho rivers. The Conference terminated with a vote of thanks to tho cha.irman. '