CLOSE SEASON FOR GAME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 780, 1 April 1910, Page 7

CLOSE SEASON FOR GAME.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, March 31. The Hon. D. Buddo states that in view of numerous petitions forwarded by acclimatisation societies aslcing for suspension of Section 20 of the Animals' Protection Act which makes 1910 a close season for game, the Government has decided to recommend the Governor to suspend the operation of the section as regards black swan, grey duck, and imported game for a period of one month from May 11 next. This will- apply only to those districts that havo specially appliod for an open, season,, and only to those, varieties of-game for which exemption from the. provisions of the Act has been asked. The Minister states that that he has. reluctantly decided, to recommend this course. The evidence. before him was very conflicting. Many sportsmen in country districts and farmers recommend that tho provision for a close season be adhered to, while a number of acclimatisation societies, agricultural and pastoral associations, and a few sportsmen in rural districts strongly recommend an open season for at least some classes of game. Tho Minister understands that considerable benefit has been experienced in some States, of America by periodical close seasons, and considers that tho provision mado by Parliament is generally right, but there is no doubt that quail are very plentiful - in some bush districts, and are becoming a serious mennco to farmers' grassseed on noivly-sowji bush land, and lie has evidence before him that goes to show that they are responsible, to some extent, lor the spread of blackberry. No other variety of game seems to bo overabundant, but conditions generally appear to be such (bat it has been decided to recommend nil open season for Imio month as stated.