ACCLIMATISATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 875, 22 July 1910, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. SPORTING MATTERS DISCUSSED, The eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies'' ; Association was held in the Oddfellows'Hall yesterday. The chair was occupied by Mr. Leonard Tripp (president). Tht following delegates were present:—Messrs. E. W: Lifliton (Wanganui), R.' ChiAolm T. Brown (Otago), Role (Stratford), J. Mulvev (Stratford), W. Bollard (Marlborough), E. W. Payten and Major Hazard (Auckland); G. 11. Saywell (Mid. ing), A. P. Ixiwe (Westland), Ritchio and W. H. ..Tisdall (Canterbury), A. H. Shury (Ashburton), J. J. Devine (Wellington), P. J. O'Rcgan (Buller), P. Palliser (South Canterbury), C. A. Fitzroy (Hawke's Bay), G. V. I'earce (Hawera,), J. H., Ostler (Wellington), and J. A< Hanan (Southland). The. president, in moving the adoption of the report and thanked the conference for having elected him : president during his absenco last year "in England. Mr. C. B. Fitzroy (Hawke's- Bay) seconded the resolution,' which was adopted. The reports and remits were only plaoed before tho members yesterday morning, a fact that was regretted by Mr. B. Chisholm (Otago), who urged that itwould be much better if they could be; placed before the delegates at an earlier' date. Praise for tho Wellington. Sociotv'f gamo farm was given by Mr. C. D. Sole (laranaki), who stated that the birds in his own district had been almost trebled' with the aid of game from the Wellington Society's farm. J The -following was tho result of the' ejection of officers President- Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington), re-elected; vice-' president, llr. C. A. Fitzroy (Hawke's Bay); council, Messrs. J. Palliser (South Canterbury), 3. A. Hanan, M.P. (Southland), C. D. Sole (Stratford), W. Pollard! (Marlborough), A; P. Lowe (Wellington). C. Goodson (Taxanaki), -E. N. Liffiton(Wanganui), E. W. Pay-ten (Auckland),F. Earlo (Auckland), R ; Chisholm (Otago), T. Brown (Otago), and Dr. B. Moorhoase (Canterbury); hon. treasurer, Mr. H. H. Ostler (Wellington); auditor. Mr. G. B. Hull; secretary, Mr. C. Lv Dasent. • . An Auckland delegate moved—"That ■ the Government be asked to amend theAnimals' Protection Act, 1908, in such a manner as to make it clear whether tha aDnu&l license of £1 for the shooting of. imported game is available in the dwtnct of issue only or all over the Dominion. ' The chairman was appointedto look into the point involved. p Mr. Hanan (Southland) moved—"That in view of. the rapid depletion of natm and. imported game, the - conference take steps to secure the issue of a general liconso to kill native and imported gamo at a fee of 10s."—This was carried unanimously. ' Jlr. Hanan moved-"That it is desirable that steps be taken to have the Animals' Protection Act, 1808, amended ill the direction of removing the restriction whereby every third year is a close season for god,vit, and that the season be from February 1 to April 30."—Carneii. Other_ motions carried were as follow:— ''That it be left to the individual societies that every third year shall be an 'open' or "closed' 1 season, and that the Animals' Protection Act be amended accordingly."—(Stratford). "That each acclimatisation society be gazetted a separate shooting district, under .the Animals' Protection Act.'-(Stratford). "That a limit be placed upon the number of decoys ' to he used for dncK shooting, and that the.use of cylinders be prohibited." —(South Canterbury). ' Mr. Ritchie (Canterbury) moved—"That the Government be asked, in view of the fact that considerable numbers of trout are regularly netted at Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth, to prohibit the issue' of. boat licenses for these lakes." He pointed out that far too much netting toolc place on the lakes, and there was every reason to believe that the trout were netted for sale. He: did not wish to interfere with existing licenses, but' no more should be issued.—The motion was carried. 1 Mr. Chisholm moved: "That the Government be recommended to continue its efforts to establish Atlantic salmon (Salmo Salar) by importing yearly a quantity of ova, and distributing tho fry in suitable reserves in the Dominion." This motion was carried unanimously. The chairman mentioned that there was .£IOO on the Estimates for the purchase of salmon ova. ' On the motion of Mr. Rutherford it was decided to ask the Government to ■ look into and regulate the whitebait industry. Mr. W. H. Tisdall (Canterbury) moved: , That the minimum fine for conviction for breaches of the Fisheries and Animals_ Protection Acts be JEIO." ■ Mr. O Regan thought that the amount was too much-they did not want acclimahsation to appear odious. An amendment that the amount bo was carried, the motion being lost. k ,-S ripp (Wellington) . moved: _ that a differential license fee for fishing and shooting.be instituted, and oversea, visitors bo charged at a higher rata than residents of the Dominion." The motion was lost on a show of hands. - ' , . Mr. R. Chisholm (Otago) moved: "That the Government be asked to give mora favourable consideration to recommendations from locai societies."—Carried. /Mr. Chisholm (Otago) moved: "That with the view of facilitating the interchange of rangers from one Acclimatisation Society's district to another this conference is of opinion that on the application of any duly registered Acclimatisation Society the Government be asked, under Section U of the Animals' Protection Act, 1908, to appoint more than one fit and proper person to be rangers in each district,. although the persons so appointed may be the same in more than one district."—Carried. Mr. P. J. O'Rcgan (Westland) moved: "That having regard to the grave desirability of saving the native avifauna from destruction, this conference is of opinion —(1) that the introduction of stoats, weasels, ferrets, or other animals of like proclivities to any of tho coastal islands comprised in the territory of Xew Zealand should be prohibited; (2) that steps should bo forthwith taken to have native birds placed on such of the said islands as may be suitable for their preservation • (3) that every such island should be placed under the control of a person or pel-sons competent for the work of safe-' guarding the native birds; and \(4) that all -scenic and other reserves of native bush, whether situate on the mainland or on the islands aforesaid, should bo made sanctuaries for native birds, and shooting, in such sanctuaries absolutely prohibited." / . The chairman .said that all scenic reserves were sanctuaries at present. Mr. O'Regan said it was known that shooting went on in those reserves, notably in the Egmont reserve. The motion was carried unanimously. The delegates are to. meet at 11 a.m. [ to-day to make arrangements about interviewing the Minister.