SUPERABUNDANT QUAIL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 730, 1 February 1910, Page 6

SUPERABUNDANT QUAIL

V_■ ■■':■■:-\- ...» ."' ' \-_: -,- '• ':,-' SHOULD THEEE BE A, CLOSE -'..' SEASON? ; ■ ;.-■; .' ..','." 1 :-, (By, Telegraph.—Press AsßOoiatlon.) : Nelson, January. 31. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister of Commerce, is. at present in ' Nelson- for the ■ opening of the Takaka show to; morrow. ." ..' ■■■ .';•>■ . ■ A ■ deputation'■ from ■ the Chamber of Commerce offered an office ahdthe use.of the club • for a .tourist bureau, bill the Minister said that he' could not consider ■the,matter, till, more'funds were available." ■."'.. . : .''...■■..

, A deputation from the local Acclimatisation Society, ..sportsmen, .and farmers' representatives, pointed out that if a.close season for imported and' Native game was declared r this year' in accordance .; with the Animals Protection Act, quail, which .was virtoally. the only imported game other than deor, already very abundant, would become a nuisance to farmers, while a close season,, would deprive the Acclimatisation Society of revenue, sportsmen of sport,, and the district of visiting tourists,- and at the same time impose a check on .purchasers of. game. Already quail, were protected for nine, months every year. ; The object of the deputation was to strengthen the Hon. Mr. Buddo'in a probable decision to grant districts a postponement of the close season in accordance with the. permissive provision of the. Act where it was proved that certain game were abun-dant-enough not to require protection..The Minister said that' indulgence in the south. had been abused in the past by paradise ducks being shot whoelsale, and beyond the limits fixed.' • Hence Ministers wore inclined to carry out, the Act rigorously; ■"■'.-.': . ' ' :. The deputation , pointed out that those suffering from a superabundance of quail should, not be penalised: because of the default of, other districts, in respect to paradise ducks. . ■'■ Ultimately the: Minister stated that he would represent matters to his colleagues, and especially the determination of farmers to protect themselves.. ■■ .' :, The Wakapuaka Farmers' Union carried a strong protest against the close season for. quail, as. they did great damage to newly-sown grass land. ;